Legislation authored by GOP representatives in the state, signed into law on April 6, provides $133 million to address PFAS contamination. The money will fund testing and remediation, including replacement of contaminated wells.
The PFAS family includes more than 10,000 water-, stain- and grease-resistant human-made chemicals used in consumer products ranging from paper and textiles to cosmetics. These so-called “forever chemicals” don’t occur in nature, and when they find their way into natural systems (including human bodies), they don’t break down.
The EPA acknowledges that exposure to PFAS at “certain levels” can have adverse effects on immune function, hormones, fertility and childhood development and increase risk for obesity and some cancers.
In 2026 alone, nearly 200 bills addressing PFAS have been introduced in state legislatures by legislators from both parties. (See map.)
Provisions in them range from requiring labeling of products containing PFAS chemicals to banning the sale of consumer products that contain them. Some aim to stop the sale of firefighting foam containing these chemicals. Others seek to prevent sewage sludge containing high levels of PFAS from being applied to land. A California bill would prohibit the registration of new pesticides whose ingredients include PFAS.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has raised concerns about legislation introduced in the U.S. House with potential to interfere with state PFAS policy. It proposes changes to the Toxic Substances Control Act that could allow federal officials to override chemical regulation by states. “If the officials claim a chemical poses less risk than some states claim, state rules could be quashed,” writes EWG’s vice president for government affairs.
Click on a state in the map below to see legislation introduced in 2026, and links to the text. Click on the state again to return to all states with bills.
