The bill amends Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to establish regulations regarding the use of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) chemicals in class B firefighting foam. Starting July 1, 2026, manufacturers will be prohibited from producing or selling firefighting foam that contains intentionally added PFAS chemicals. Additionally, beginning January 1, 2027, the use of such foam will be banned for all individuals and firefighting entities in Pennsylvania, with certain exceptions for federal requirements and exempt facilities. The bill also outlines the responsibilities of the commissioner, including assisting firefighting entities in transitioning to PFAS-free foam and developing plans for the safe disposal of existing PFAS-containing foam.

To enforce these regulations, the bill grants the Office of the Attorney General the authority to impose civil penalties for violations, with fines of up to $5,000 for first offenses and $10,000 for subsequent offenses. The collected penalties will be directed to the Online Training Educator and Training Reimbursement Account. Furthermore, firefighting entities will be allowed to use grant awards from the Fire Company Grant Program to purchase PFAS-free firefighting foam. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.