New Hampshire’s House Democrats have succeeded in passing landmark legislation banning PFAS chemicals from a host of consumer products. In a press release on the passage of the HB1649, Democratic Leader Pro Temper, Representative Karen Ebel of New London, said:

“Landmark legislation, HB 1649, became law today, prohibiting many commonly used consumer products with harmful PFAS from being sold in our state, including food packaging, children’s products, cosmetics, feminine hygiene products, carpets and furniture.  Supported by a broad, bipartisan coalition, this hard-won effort will start to reduce PFAS use in New Hampshire, already so greatly burdened by forever chemical contamination, protecting our health, our drinking water and our environment.

This bill also ensures that industries will be held strictly liable to the state for cleanup, restoration, and other remediation costs due to PFAS contamination, while also creating a private right of action for individuals whose wells have been contaminated.

Granite Staters have the right to trust the products they buy and their drinking water without fear of negative, long-term health impacts. HB 1649’s passage is a major, common-sense step to protect Granite Staters’ health and our irreplaceable New Hampshire environment. Requiring PFAS to be removed from consumer products that we use daily and ensuring proper PFAS pollution cleanup is vital. The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil we walk on should be free of forever chemicals. We deserve nothing less.”

Link to Ebel’s statement on X