PFAS Update: An Explosion of State Legislation in 2025

As of July 17, 2025, nine states have adopted 17 new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) regulations, and a total of 36 states are considering 201 bills that would regulate the forever chemicals. This puts the U.S. on track to surpass the total number of bills passed in 2024 (20) and represents an increased interest by state leaders in managing PFAS.

According to an analysis by Safer States, states are taking a more comprehensive approach to regulating PFAS due not only to the serious health risks associated with the forever chemicals but also because of the growing economic burden of cleanup. Many states are expected to introduce more policies targeting industrial discharge, the use of contaminated sludge on farmland, and the removal of unnecessary PFAS from products in 2025. The analysis, published in February, predicted that 29 states would consider a range of PFAS measures, an estimate that has already been surpassed just a few months later.

“States are leading the charge in protecting public health by not only cleaning up toxic pollution but also preventing it from happening in the first place,” said Sarah Doll, national director of Safer States. “No one wants microplastics or chemicals linked to cancer in their food, water, or everyday products. By taking bold action to keep these harmful chemicals out of our communities, states are safeguarding our health and saving money by solving the problem before it begins.”

These regulations come at a time when the federal government has backed off from regulating PFAS. In May, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rolled back regulations for several PFAS substances, including GenX, and delayed compliance deadlines for utilities until 2031 for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin emphasized the move was aimed at supporting small and rural water systems, but public health advocates warn it signals a weakening of federal PFAS protections. In response, states have had to step up their regulation of PFAS without federal leadership to guide monitoring and treatment efforts.

Maine

The Pine Tree state has enacted several bills tackling PFAS in 2025. The first bill, LD 130, was signed by Governor Janet Mills on May 9, 2025, and formally establishes the PFAS Response Program, aimed at helping farms affected by PFAS contamination. Introduced by State Senator Henry Ingwersen, LD 130 codifies the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry's existing efforts and expands support for farmers by providing financial assistance, technical support, and reimbursement for investments in water filtration and, when necessary, livestock depopulation. The bill also empowers the department to set maximum PFAS levels in agricultural products and to prohibit sales when those levels are exceeded. To qualify for support, farmers must allow property access and cooperate with state investigators, as well as allow for the state to mitigate PFAS contamination if found.

“We know that Maine's PFAS Fund is a robust response to the challenges facing Maine farmers that are confronted with PFAS contamination by continuing to support those impacted the most,” said Ingwersen. “This legislation will allow Maine to effectively address the PFAS contamination crisis, protecting our businesses, farms and natural resources.”

Next, on May 30, 2025, the state passed LD 1604, which establishes new requirements for regulating and monitoring PFAS contamination in landfill leachate and nearby water supplies. It directs licensed wastewater discharge facilities to keep detailed records on the source, volume, and disposal of leachate from solid waste landfills, and requires landfills to incorporate PFAS testing into their existing water quality monitoring plans. These records and the results of the monitoring plans must be reported annually. Additionally, property owners living within one mile of a landfill can request PFAS testing of their private wells, and if contamination is found, the landfill must conduct additional testing under state direction.

On June 16, 2025, Maine passed LD 1786, which seeks to enhance transparency and public awareness around PFAS contamination in Maine by requiring the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide detailed, up-to-date information on its website about the most stringent maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for regulated PFAS compounds. The DEP must also directly notify private well owners when their water is being tested, provide results and guidance on mitigation options, and offer potential financial support if PFAS contamination is found. Additionally, the bill also ensures that well owners can access this information even if their wells have not been tested by the DEP, either upon request or if the agency believes contamination is likely.

And lastly, on June 25, 2025, Governor Mills signed into law LD 1326, which establishes a regulatory framework for monitoring and managing PFAS contamination in Maine's drinking water systems. The legislation mandates regular PFAS monitoring and transparent public reporting of sample results and requires treatment protocols when contamination exceeds enforceable MCLs outlined in the legislation. Notably, the MCLs originally aligned with federal PFAS MCLs, but the recent rollback of regulations by the EPA leaves Maine with regulations more stringent than the federal government.

Minnesota

In 2025, the North Star State passed two separate appropriations bills that, in part, seek to tackle PFAS contamination. The first, HF 2563, allocates funding for tracking mercury and PFAS contamination in fish, and to monitor the impact these contaminants have on state waterways over time. While the Minnesota Department of Health states that suffering health issues due to PFAS ingested while consuming fish is unlikely, the department still has guidelines on how much fish should be eaten from 51 state waterways due to PFAS contamination found in fish populations.

Minnesota also passed SF 3, which included significant funding allocations for PFAS remediation in the state, including funding for the state's PFAS Blueprint, PFAS reduction grants, PFAS tracking initiatives, and biofilm treatment technology, among others. Two interesting projects funded by the bill include funding for the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to create natural and synthetic compounds that can biodegrade PFAS compounds and for PFAS testing of pine needles as a low-cost method to assess statewide PFAS contamination.

New Mexico

On April 2, 2025, the Land of Enchantment passed two bills regulating PFAS: the PFAS Protection Act (HB 212) and the Hazardous Waste Constituent Definition Act (HB 140). HB 212 made New Mexico the third state to ban intentionally added PFAS across all categories of consumer products. The law passed with bipartisan support and phases in restrictions starting in 2027, targeting children's products, cookware, firefighting foam, and food packaging, with a full ban by 2032 for all non-exempt items including intentionally added PFAS. Exemptions were granted for essential medical, electronic, and manufacturing applications, including certain fluoropolymers used in nonstick cookware after input from groups like the Cookware Sustainability Alliance.

The second bill, HB 140, defines aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), a firefighting substance that contains PFAS, as hazardous waste under state law. This reclassification allows New Mexico to regulate AFFF even if it is not federally designated as hazardous, bolstering the state's legal position in two ongoing lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Defense. The suits stem from PFAS contamination linked to Holloman and Cannon Air Force Bases, which the state argues polluted drinking water and forced the euthanization of thousands of dairy cows.

New York

On May 9, 2025, the governor of the Empire State Kathy Hochul signed into law AB A3008C, which enacted legislative changes to address the widespread use of PFAS in firefighting foam and protective gear, while simultaneously easing the financial burden of PFAS remediation on municipalities. This move aims to protect local governments from bearing the steep costs of cleanup for contamination caused by products they had been legally required to use. To guide future remediation efforts, the law also directs the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to develop interim soil and groundwater testing guidance by January 1, 2027, in coordination with the Department of Health.

The state is also phasing out the use of firefighting equipment containing intentionally added PFAS. Effective January 1, 2028, manufacturers will be prohibited from selling or distributing firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE) with PFAS above regulatory thresholds. The law also enhances transparency by requiring written disclosure to purchasers when PPE contains PFAS.

Oregon

Following the theme of regulating firefighting foam, the Beaver State passed SB 91, signed into law on May 14, 2025, a measure that aims to phase out the use of foams that include intentionally added PFAS in an effort to protect firefighter health and the environment. Effective January 1, 2026, the bill prohibits the sale and use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam, except where federally required. The legislation also bans disposal of the foam at certain facilities and directs the Environmental Quality Commission to establish a program for its safe collection and disposal. This law makes Oregon the 16th state to ban PFAS-containing firefighting foam. The law was supported by the Oregon State Fire Fighters Council, Oregon Environmental Council, and the City of Portland, citing safer alternatives to the current PFAS-containing foams.

Rhode Island

The Ocean State has also worked towards banning PFAS in firefighting equipment with the passage of SB 241, signed into law on June 10,2025, part of the broader Consumer PFAS Ban Act of 2024. The bill prohibits manufacturers from producing or selling firefighting PPE containing intentionally added PFAS in the state starting January 1, 2027. The legislation includes some exceptions for unavoidable uses and directs state agencies and local governments to prioritize purchasing PFAS-free firefighting gear.

Rhode Island also passed HB 5844, which requires individuals and organizations applying treated sewage sludge used as fertilizer, known as biosolids, to conduct quarterly testing for PFAS. Applicants must submit PFAS test results to the Department of Environmental Management with their initial application. The bill also gives the department authority to deny biosolids application permits beginning September 1, 2025, if the proposed use poses a risk to public health or the environment.

Vermont

The Green Mountain state took a significant step this year in phasing out PFAS-containing consumer products with the passage of H.238, signed into law on June 11, 2025. The law expands PFAS restrictions to include several products, including the continuing theme of firefighting PPE. The legislation establishes a series of phased deadlines starting with bans on cleaning products and dental floss containing PFAS on July 1, 2027, and culminating in full implementation by 2032.

The law also mandates increased transparency and regulatory oversight. Manufacturers of firefighting station wear must provide notice of PFAS content until July 2026, and the Agency of Natural Resources must report on the availability and cost of PFAS-free PPE. Additionally, the Secretary of Natural Resources is required to submit reports in 2027 and 2033 recommending whether Vermont should establish a full regulatory program for PFAS in consumer goods and how to address PFAS in complex durable goods and food.

Virginia

The Old Dominion passed HB 2050 on April 2, 2025, seeking to protect the Occoquan Reservoir from escalating levels of PFAS. The legislation was prompted by the adoption of PFAS MCLs by the EPA and alarming PFAS concentrations found in the reservoir and aims to prevent costly infrastructure upgrades by shifting the burden of remediation to polluters. In a conversation with 3E earlier this year, Delegate David Bulova, who led the legislative effort, explained that without intervention, water utilities faced an estimated $389 million in capital upgrades and millions more in maintenance. HB 2050 instead requires industrial permit holders to test for PFAS in their discharges and reduce levels below EPA thresholds by 2029, aligning with federal compliance deadlines.

Washington

Sor far in 2025, the Evergreen State passed three bills that seek, at least in part, to regulate PFAS. The first, passed on May 17, is SB 5033, which introduces new PFAS testing requirements for biosolids in Washington State. Facilities that generate biosolids must conduct quarterly PFAS sampling from January 1, 2027, to June 30, 2028, using a method specified by the EPA. The Department of Ecology must publish sampling guidance by July 1, 2026, and facilities must submit test results by September 30, 2028. By July 1, 2029, the department must deliver a report to the legislature summarizing PFAS levels in biosolids and providing recommendations for future policy. An advisory committee will support the development of these recommendations.

The next two, both passed on May 20, are appropriations bills that include funding for PFAS cleanup and testing. SB 5167, which in part funds SB 5033, also expands the state's efforts to address PFAS contamination by allocating funding for identifying PFAS in priority consumer products, monitoring environmental sources and impacts, supporting municipal wastewater treatment and cleanup, and conducting outreach to industries using PFAS. The bill also funds research on contaminants of emerging concern, including PFAS, in salmon tissue.

The other appropriations bill, SB 5195, allocates funding for cleanup in several parts of Washington, including Hannah Heights, the City of DuPont, and the Lower Issaquah Valley. The bill also directs funding to tackle PFAS contamination in drinking water, including in the West Plains, where communities near air bases and airports have found PFAS contamination in private wells. According to the West Plains Water Coalition, at least one national study found the area's PFAS contamination to be the worst in the U.S.