This bill provides civil immunity to farmers for damages related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in soil, water, or agricultural products, as long as these substances result from standard agricultural practices, including the land application of sludge or biosolids. Additionally, the bill mandates the Department of Environmental Services to establish concentration-based standards for PFAS in biosolids used at land-application sites by June 30, 2027, and prohibits land application if PFAS concentrations exceed these standards starting January 1, 2028. The bill also exempts certain PFAS products from use restrictions, specifically those authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense that fall under specific regulatory frameworks.

Furthermore, the bill amends the definition of "drinking water standard" to include maximum contaminant levels for PFAS as established under RSA 485:16-e or the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, should they be adopted by the commissioner. The legal language changes include the insertion of new provisions regarding civil immunity for farmers, the establishment of PFAS standards, and the updated definition of drinking water standards, while deleting outdated references to previous regulations. The effective date for the drinking water standard provisions is set for September 8, 2026, while the rest of the act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 485-A:2, 6:12
As Amended by the House: 485-A:5-d
As Amended by the Senate: 485-H:2
Version adopted by both bodies: 485-A:5-d, 149-M:64, 485-H:2
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 485-A:5-d, 149-M:64, 485-H:2
HB1275 text: 485-A:2, 6:12