Governor leads bill-signing event for Massachusetts measure to curb PFAS in firefighting gear

At a bill-signing event in Boston, the governor stood with firefighters, union leaders and legislators to advance a measure aimed at curbing firefighters' exposure to PFAS, chemicals linked in studies and testimony to cancer and other health harms. The measure would require manufacturers to disclose when PFAS are present in firefighting equipment and phase in a sales prohibition on products with intentionally added PFAS by 2027.

The governor framed the legislation as a public-safety priority and thanked legislative sponsors and advocates. "Today, Massachusetts is putting health and safety, and the well-being of our firefighters first by phasing out the use of these dangerous chemicals," the governor said, noting prior legal action against manufacturers while serving as attorney general.

Senator Mike Moore, who the governor introduced as a legislative champion for the measure, described the bill's passage through long sessions and urged that the governor would sign the bill "with the stroke of the pen shortly." Moore emphasized the health stakes, saying the chemicals have a "clear and well documented link to cancer" and noting that, "From 2002 to 2019, cancer accounted for two thirds of firefighter deaths," a figure he attributed to the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Representative Hawkins, the House sponsor, said he filed the original legislation on the House side and credited groups including Clean Water Action and the firefighters' union for technical and advocacy support. Rich McKinnon, president of the Professional Firefighters Association of Massachusetts, described union members' mobilization and said the law contains "the strongest language in our nation" to address the exposure.

The governor also outlined budget measures tied to PFAS work: the enacted state budget includes 18 new positions dedicated to PFAS response, funding for equipment and screening programs intended to address occupational cancer risk among firefighters, and continuation of a foam take-back program that officials said has collected material from more than 160 departments.

Auditor Diana DiZaglio, who earlier sponsored related legislation, spoke about personal experience with firefighters and family members lost to cancer and thanked advocates and lawmakers for advancing the measure.

The event concluded with organizers preparing a signing table and officials indicating the governor would sign the measure at the ceremony. The bill, as described at the event, requires manufacturer disclosure of PFAS in products and sets a 2027 deadline to prohibit the sale of products with intentionally added PFAS for firefighting gear. Specific regulatory details, implementation dates and any transitional exemptions were not specified at the event and will be determined in follow-up rulemaking or guidance.

Next steps noted at the event included the governor's signing and subsequent administrative steps to implement disclosure and enforcement; officials said additional staffing and programs funded in the state budget will support that work.