Texas lawmakers failed to pass bills aimed at regulating or studying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” during the recent legislative session.
House Bill 1674, which proposed regulating PFAS in fertilizers made from sewage sludge, did not advance. House Bill 1730, which aimed to study the health effects of PFAS exposure, also failed to pass.
A bill restricting the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams was not approved due to time constraints.
PFAS chemicals are widely used and persist in the environment. Exposure has been linked to various health issues, including cancer and liver damage.
The failure to pass these bills means Texas will not have state-level regulations on PFAS for now. Local governments may need to take their own steps to address PFAS contamination.
The issue of PFAS regulation is expected to be revisited in future legislative sessions.
