Senate committee passes ban on PFAS-containing ski, boat and board wax

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on a voice vote approved a bill to ban the sale in New Hampshire of ski, boat and board wax containing PFAS following testimony from a Merrimack resident who described local water contamination and the availability of non‑PFAS wax.

Wendy Thomas, who identified herself as a Merrimack resident and a local "water warrior," told the committee that the town has long struggled with PFAS contamination and that the state previously passed a law banning specific consumer products containing PFAS. Thomas said non‑PFAS wax is already sold in New Hampshire and described PFAS entering waterways when wax on skis, snowboards and boats breaks down in ice and water. "This is not a nuisance chemical. This is a deadly chemical that if you are exposed to it long enough, it will harm you," Thomas said.

Committee members asked whether the products are still sold in New Hampshire; Thomas said they are, and gave an example of a skier who had to find a different local shop that carried non‑PFAS wax. Senators on the committee offered few questions and moved the bill forward. After no substantive committee discussion, a motion to pass the bill was made, seconded and approved by voice consent.

The committee record shows the bill was placed on the consent calendar and approved without roll call. The transcript does not show a recorded roll‑call tally by name.

The bill’s sponsors said the measure aims to stop PFAS from entering lakes and water supplies from degraded wax on recreational equipment. The committee did not reopen the bill for additional testimony and moved on to other agenda items.

A copy of the sponsor’s written materials and the department correspondence are included in the hearing file.

The committee’s action advances the measure to the next step in the legislative process; the transcript indicates the committee approved the bill by unanimous voice vote/consent during the hearing.