Sponsors (6)
Official title: To phaseout production of nonessential uses of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, to prohibit releases of all perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 19, 2026 by Betty McCollum · Last progress March 19, 2026
The bill aggressively reduces PFAS exposure and strengthens enforcement, science, and transparency—benefiting public health and vulnerable communities—but does so by imposing substantial compliance, remediation, litigation, and budgetary costs on manufacturers, utilities, state/local governments, and taxpayers.
Millions of residents (including children, pregnant women, low-income and rural communities) will face fewer PFAS-containing products and reduced environmental contamination over time due to product bans, required phaseouts, and mandated remediation, lowering long-term exposure and health risks.
Communities and local governments gain stronger enforcement tools (injunctions, orders, daily penalties) plus private-suit options and mandatory public notice, increasing the ability to compel cleanup and protect public health quickly.
Consumers, taxpayers, and local officials gain greater transparency because manufacturers must report PFAS uses/volumes/releases and research centers must provide open access to findings, making exposure data and safer-alternative research publicly available.
Manufacturers, importers, retailers, and small businesses face substantial new compliance, reporting, reformulation, and phaseout costs that are likely to raise consumer prices and strain small firms.
Workers and businesses in PFAS-using sectors risk job losses and supply-chain disruption from bans, 10-year phaseouts, and restrictions on essential uses.
State and local governments, utilities, and taxpayers may face large monitoring, remediation, and detection costs to meet stringent thresholds and cleanup obligations, straining budgets and infrastructure resources.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Directs a National Academies review to define essential PFAS uses, creates research Centers of Excellence, and gives EPA civil and criminal enforcement authority to phase out nonessential PFAS uses.
Requires the EPA to contract with the National Academies for a multi-year, evidence-based review of which per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) uses are "essential," to guide prioritizing phaseouts of nonessential PFAS uses. Establishes two Centers of Excellence (a primary Center and a Rural Center) to advance PFAS detection, remediation research, and technology access and authorizes EPA enforcement tools, including civil and criminal penalties, compliance orders, and citizen suits to implement the title. Directs the National Academies to deliver a detailed assessment (including a decision framework, sector-by-sector analysis, research gaps, and R&D recommendations) within three years of starting work, and gives EPA authority to suspend or revoke PFAS use authorizations and seek injunctive relief and penalties for noncompliance. The Centers are to be hosted by designated high-research universities and a rural university in specified regions to accelerate science, remediation, and coordination with federal, state, tribal, and local partners.