July 2023 PFAS Legislative Developments
July Legislation Tracking (July 1, 2023 – July 31, 2023)
Current Trends in Legislation – July 2023
Federal Bills Introduced
- Federal Level
- Key point addressed: Appropriations for PFAS programs in various agencies, including Defense, Agriculture and Housing.
Firefighting Foam
- States Involved: ME, PA
- Key point addressed: Prohibiting use of PFAS substances in firefighting foam. Maine legislators proposed amendments to existing bills.
New Bills This Period
PFAS Legislation
Federal
- 12 Bills Introduced
State
- Two bills and two amendments were introduced in July related to PFAS
- PA – 2
- ME – 2 (amendments)
Signed into Law
There were no State or Federal bills passed into law related to PFAS in July 2023
Highlighted Bills – PFAS Legislation
Federal
Federal Bill: S. 2283
- Bill Name: PFAS-Free Procurement Act of 2023
- Sponsors: Sen. Gary Peters
- Introduced: 7/12/2023
- Status:(7/12/2023) Introduced
- Summary: The intent is to prohibit the procurement of certain items containing (PFOS) or (PFOA) and prioritize the procurement of products not containing PFAS by 10/1/2025.
Federal Bill: H.R. 4769
- Bill Name: To drive innovation in developing next-generation protection for firefighters by accelerating the development of PFAS-free turnout gear and for other purposes
- Sponsors: Rep. Debbie Dingell
- Introduced: 7/20/2023
- Status:(7/21/2023) Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
- Summary: The language has not yet been made available. We will provide a summary when the language is published.
Federal Bill: H.R. 4917
- Bill Name: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide no-cost coverage for PFAS testing under the Medicare program.
- Sponsors: Rep. Dan Kildee
- Introduced: 7/26/2023
- Status: (7/26/2023) Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Summary: The language has not yet been made available. We will provide a summary when the language is published.
Federal Bill: S. 2226
- Bill Name: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.
- Sponsors: Sen. Jack Reed
- Introduced: 7/11/2023
- Status: (7/28/2023) The Senate passed its annual Pentagon policy bill.
- Summary:The appropriations for fiscal year 2024 provide guidance on treatment of certain materials that have been contaminated with PFAS (Section 321). The appropriations also provide modifications on timing of report on activities of the PFAS Task Force (Section 327)
- Notes: Two amendments to this bill have been proposed to further address PFAS. The amendment proposed by Sen. Cynthia Lummis addresses proposed exemptions for “passive receivers of PFAS contamination.”
State
State Bill: HB1571 (PA)
- Bill Name: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes in Commonwealth services providing for firefighting protective equipment.
- Sponsors: Greg Scott
- Introduced: 7/18/2023
- Status: (7/18/2023) Referred to Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness
- Summary: The bill mandates a manufacturer that produces or sells personal protective equipment for firefighting entities in PA containing PFAS chemicals to affix a warning label to the product that indicates that the product contains PFAS and provide a written notice to the purchaser at the time of the sale.
State Bill: SR145 (PA)
- Bill Name: A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to establish the National Infrastructure Bank
- Sponsors: Lisa Boscola
- Introduced: 7/17/2023
- Status: (7/17/2023) Referred to Dept. of Transportation
- Summary: A resolution to repair infrastructure throughout Pennsylvania. the bill suggests over the next 10 years, PA’s public water systems, which currently continue to contain substantial amounts of lead service lines as well as PFAS, are projected to have a $10.2 billion funding gap for necessary repairs to meet regulatory requirements.
Amendment: HP 588 LD 941 (ME)
- Bill Name: An Act Facilitating the Efforts of the Midcoast Regional
Redevelopment Authority and the Town of Brunswick to Design and Carry Out Improvements to the Storm Water System and Other Infrastructure at the Former Brunswick Naval Air Station - Sponsors: Daniel Ankeles
- Introduced: 3/2/2023
- Status: (3/2/2023) Introduced
- Summary: This bill is established to evaluate the need to replace, repair or upgrade conventional infrastructure and storm water management throughout the entirety of the former Brunswick Naval Air Station for the purpose of protecting the health and safety. In July, an amendment was added to review remediation and storage efforts with respect to materials believed to be contaminated with PFAS.
Updates on Previously Highlighted Bills
Federal
State
