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Committee approves measure to restrict PFAS use for firefighter training
Summary
House Bill 13‑51 would restrict use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams for training and reserve them for real incidents (airports, refineries, large fuel fires); sponsor said Department of Defense has taken similar steps and firefighter organizations support the change.
House Bill 13‑51, presented in committee by Senator Scott Flippo on behalf of Representative Wing, would limit the use of PFAS-containing aqueous film‑forming foams (AFFF) to real firefighting incidents and prohibit their use for routine training. Flippo said the policy targets large-scale liquid-fuel fires (airports, refineries, fuel storage) and follows Department of Defense precedent.
Flippo said firefighter groups, including the fire chiefs association, support the restriction to reduce environmental and occupational exposures while preserving PFAS-containing foam use for situations where it is functionally required. No opposition testimony was recorded in the transcript. The committee suspended rules to consider the house bill and passed it by voice vote (formal tally not specified).
The measure addresses firefighter safety and environmental concerns related to PFAS chemicals in firefighting foams, while allowing operational use when required for specific large-scale incidents.
