Limiting PFAS Exposure is Central Priority for Advocates this Legislative Session

Albany, NY – Today the PFAS Free New York campaign introduced its 2026 policy priorities with a press event and lobby day in the Capitol. The bills would provide increased protections against exposure to dangerous PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) “forever chemicals”. These bills include: Ban on PFAS in Consumer and Household Products (A7738/S9073), Beauty Justice Act (A2054A/S2057A), Moratorium on the Land Application of Sewage Sludge (A10138/S9115), PFAS Discharge Disclosure Act (A5832B/S4574B), and Codification of Federal PFAS MCLs (A8634/S3207A).

The bills, backed by the PFAS Free NY campaign and several legislators, aim to tackle upstream sources of PFAS used in consumer and household products, manage PFAS discharges, and clean up PFAS downstream in drinking water sources and on farmland. Multiple pieces of legislation targeting different stages of the PFAS life cycle—from production and use to disposal, release, and cleanup—are needed in order to address the widespread impact. Most critically, PFAS exposure must be limited in everyday products, such as rugs, children’s toys, cookware, and household cleaners. The bills also would increase transparency about PFAS disposal in waterways and adopt the more strict federal guidelines for PFAS in water.

PFAS are a group of more than 10,000 synthetic, highly persistent chemicals that do not break down in the environment or the body, and therefore called “forever chemicals”. Used for their water-, grease-, and stain-resistant properties in products like non-stick cookware and water-resistant rugs; they also contaminate air, water, and soil. PFAS in our bodies may lead to reproductive harms (like decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women); developmental effects in children (like low birth weight, accelerated puberty, or behavioral changes); increased risk of some cancers (including prostate, kidney, and testicular); reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections; hormone interference; and increased cholesterol levels. When pregnant women drink water that comes from wells downstream of sites contaminated with PFAS, risks include the chance of low birth weight, preterm birth, and infant mortality.

Below are quotes from event attendees and bill supporters:

“PFAS are among the most toxic and harmful chemicals known to humankind and their presence poses serious risks to public health and our environment,” said Senator Peter Harckham. “The Trump EPA’s quashing of important regulations regarding PFAS will greatly increase consumption of these contaminants by our residents at a time when we should be doing everything possible to eliminate their use in our environment.”

"As a sponsor of the Beauty Justice Act, I’m proud to stand with advocates to close dangerous loopholes and ensure that beauty and personal care products are safe, transparent, and free from PFAS," said Senator Lea Webb. "New Yorkers should not have to worry that the everyday products they use on their bodies are exposing them to toxic ‘forever chemicals.’ Protecting public health, especially the health of women, children, and communities disproportionately impacted by toxic exposure, must be a top priority this session."

“PFAS contamination is a serious threat to our water and public health, and it’s been allowed to go unchecked for far too long. When industries release these toxic substances into our streams, lakes, and groundwater, New Yorkers have a right to know. My bill, the PFAS Discharge Disclosure Act, ensures we finally get clear, statewide testing so we can see the full extent of the pollution and take action. We can’t safeguard public health without data, and this bill delivers the transparency and accountability we need. The PFAS Discharge Disclosure Act is an important step toward a PFAS-free New York,” said Senator Rachel May. 

“New Yorkers shouldn’t have to risk their health just to brush their teeth, cook dinner, style their hair, or apply makeup,” said Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee. “PFAS and other forever chemicals have infiltrated our bodies and the environment, creating a toxic cycle that endangers both people and ecosystems. The only way to break this cycle is to eliminate these chemicals from products and ensure they are removed wherever they are found. Passing strong legislation that limits PFAS, including legislation I carry like the Beauty Justice Act and the PFAS in Consumer and Household Products bill, is essential this session to protect our health and our future.”

“With the Trump administration weakening and delaying PFAS protections, we must act urgently to protect drinking water across New York State,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee. “I am proud to sponsor the Codification of Federal PFAS MCLs bill. This bill sets strict, science-based limits on contaminants in our water that mirror the federal standards that Trump’s EPA is now looking to abandon, and ensures the State Department of Health has the tools to keep ‘forever chemicals’ out of our water. The time to act is now, we need to ensure our water is protected.” 

“PFAS contamination is not a single-source problem, it’s the predictable result of allowing these chemicals in everyday products and then acting surprised when they show up in our water, soil, and food. This legislative package takes a practical, upstream approach: stop using PFAS where safer alternatives exist, require clear accountability and transparency, and cut off pathways that move contamination from wastewater into the environment,” said Assemblymember Anna Kelles. “That includes a needed pause on land-spreading of biosolids while New York sets enforceable standards and builds a real testing and remediation response, so farmers and communities are not left to shoulder the costs of a problem they did not create. The goal is simple: reduce PFAS at the source, prevent new contamination, and protect public health and working lands with rules that match the science.”

“We know enough about the dangers of PFAS to act. Allowing these persistent, harmful chemicals to remain in everyday consumer products is unnecessary and irresponsible when safer alternatives exist,” said Kate Donovan, Senior Attorney at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Phasing out PFAS, including in cookware, is critical for a healthier and more sustainable future. While New York missed a chance during the last legislative session to protect New Yorkers, there is a real opportunity to fix that this session and get back on track with nation-leading laws that address these dangerous chemicals.”

Rob Hayes, Senior Director of Clean Water, Environmental Advocates NY, said: “Over a million New Yorkers have PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ in their drinking water, and with the federal government rolling back health and safety rules, it’s up to New York State to protect our health. By codifying strong PFAS protections in state law that the Trump administration is trying to weaken and delay, as other states have already done, S3207-A/A8634 will safeguard all of us from these dangerous chemicals that cause cancer and put our children at risk of developmental problems. We can’t wait another year.” 

"It's time for New York to pass the Beauty Justice Act! This bill will protect all New Yorkers from inadvertently adding threats to our health when we take care of our skin and hair. It will especially reduce the burden on Black women and other women of color, who face disproportionate toxic hazards throughout our lives, and have beauty products that contain more harmful ingredients marketed to us," said Sophia Longsworth, Toxics Policy Director for Clean+Healthy, which co-leads the JustGreen Partnership with WE ACT for Environmental Justice. "Find me someone that doesn't want the products they use everyday to be free of harmful chemicals. Personal care products get absorbed through our skin and washed down the drain, and can add a toxic burden to our bodies and drinking water. With leadership from Senator Webb and Assemblymember Glick, New York can lead the way to a healthier future."

"New York cannot let the threat of federal rollbacks erase our progress on PFAS.  As a lifelong resident of a community directly harmed by PFAS, I’m calling on the state to reject deregulation efforts that favor industry over our health. We need bold action to protect our water and our families. It’s time to uphold the dignity of impacted families and expand protections as the science demands and ensure New Yorkers can live without the fear of PFAS in their daily lives,” said Jennifer Rawlison, Impacted Community Member, Newburgh Clean Water Project.  “We deserve the absolute assurances that the water we drink and the products we buy are free from these ‘forever chemicals.’ Our health is not for sale.”

"Sewage sludge, a byproduct of wastewater treatment plants, has been marketed as an affordable fertilizer alternative to farmers and sold as compost in big box stores to home gardeners. But evidence shows sludge spreading puts rural communities, surface and ground water, and food systems at serious risk. The sludge often contains a wide range of harmful contaminants, including PFAS 'forever chemicals,' microplastics, industrial solvents, pathogens, and pharmaceuticals, none of which are fully removed through current treatment processes,” said Caitlin Ferrante, Conservation Program Manager at the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. “S.5759-C/A.6192-D, would place a 5-year moratorium on the spreading of sewage sludge on any land in NY, giving pause for the state to assess where the sludge is coming from and to evaluate the practice of spreading, in general. We should be protecting our remaining farmlands, our water supplies, and our communities as a whole, as we work to better understand a sustainable and responsible way to deal with our waste." 

PFAS-Free NY is a campaign organized by a broad group of organizations, advocates, and impacted community members who have come together to fight for a PFAS-free New York. Visit us at www.pfasfreeny.org and follow us on X and Instagram @PFASfreeNY.