Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pfas Turnout Gear topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State senator outlines bill to ban PFAS in firefighter turnout gear and other local initiatives
Summary
Senator Feilat told Warren council members she has introduced (or sponsored) bills including a proposed ban on PFAS‑containing turnout gear after 2027 and a 'housing champions' incentive bill; she said funding to replace gear is being pursued through litigation proceeds and future budget efforts.
Senator Feilat used the Warren workshop to preview legislation she described as priorities for the session, including a bill to prohibit procurement of firefighter turnout gear containing PFAS after 2027 and a proposal called the "housing champions" bill to incentivize development on previously disturbed sites.
“If you need to replace the firefighter's gear here, it cannot have PFAS in it, which almost all firefighter gear has if you purchase it after 2027,” the senator said, noting there is no immediate state appropriation but that a pending lawsuit by the attorney general against manufacturers could create a funding source. She estimated statewide replacement costs at roughly $16 million and described parallel efforts to secure larger funding for volunteer and professional departments.
The senator also described a "housing champions" idea intended to provide grants to municipalities that favor redevelopment of previously disturbed land and preservation of historical resources rather than building on greenfields. Separately, she said she has bills addressing AI‑altered deepfake imagery in revenge‑porn statutes and a nursing‑home staffing/complaint history measure to help facilities screen workers with repeated complaints.
The council did not take formal action but was told that funding and implementation details remain outstanding and that the senator will seek to pair regulatory changes with state funding where possible.
