Governor Maura Healey signed legislation requiring the removal of PFAS from firefighter protective gear. The law bans the sale of bunker gear containing intentionally added PFAS effective January 2027, and requires warning labels on firefighting gear beginning in 2025 to inform firefighters about PFAS content. Massachusetts becomes one of only two states with such comprehensive PFAS protection for firefighters, addressing a significant occupational health concern for fire services personnel.
MassDEP has published a supplier notification letter template to assist companies subject to Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) requirements in contacting suppliers regarding PFAS content in products. The template addresses the Certain PFAS Not Otherwise Listed (NOL) Category with reporting thresholds of 25,000 lb/year for manufactured/processed substances and 10,000 lb/year for otherwise used substances. Companies can use this template to request notification of PFAS presence and quantities in mixtures or products furnished to them, supporting TURA compliance obligations effective from January 1, 2022.
The Massachusetts Legislature failed to pass comprehensive PFAS product restriction legislation (S.3034/H.4870, 'An Act to protect Massachusetts public health from PFAS') before the legislative session deadline of July 31, 2026. The bills would have established bans on PFAS in consumer products including carpets, rugs, children's products, cookware, food packaging, personal care products, and textiles, along with industrial discharge controls and manufacturing disclosure requirements. The legislation could be refiled in a future legislative session.
MassDEP published a Q&A fact sheet for public water suppliers clarifying how EPA's proposed PFAS rescission rule and compliance extension would affect Massachusetts water systems. The guidance confirms Massachusetts' PFAS6 MCL of 20 ppt combined (for PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFHpA, PFDA) remains in effect regardless of federal changes, and explains options for seeking PFOA/PFOS compliance deadline exemptions through 2031. The guidance notes that most Massachusetts PFAS exceedances result from PFAS6 levels above the state's 20 ppt standard, demonstrating Massachusetts' standards are often more protective than federal limits.
Companion bills S.3034 and H.4870 titled 'An Act to protect Massachusetts public health from PFAS' are advancing through the Massachusetts legislature. S.3034 was reported favorably by the Senate Public Health Committee on April 2, 2026 (replacing original S.1504). H.4870 was released from the Joint Committee on Public Health on January 5, 2026. The legislation proposes: (1) PFAS restrictions in carpets, rugs, car seats, children's products, cookware, fabric sprays, food packaging, personal care products, textiles, and upholstered furniture; (2) establishment of a PFAS Remediation Trust Fund; (3) manufacturer disclosure requirements for PFAS-containing products; (4) industrial discharge restrictions and monitoring requirements; and (5) prohibitions on Class B firefighting foam containing PFAS for testing/training. Compliance teams should monitor legislative progress and prepare for potential product reformulation and disclosure requirements.
The Massachusetts Senate Bill 3034 (Massachusetts PFAS Act) was reported by the Joint Committee on Public Health and referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. The bill proposes establishing a PFAS Remediation Trust Fund to assist municipalities, public water systems, and private well users with contamination costs; prohibiting Class B firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS; requiring 24-hour notification to MassDEP for PFAS foam discharges; and directing MassDEP to include PFAS monitoring requirements in surface water and groundwater discharge permits. If enacted, this would create comprehensive statewide PFAS protections for drinking water, consumer products, and environmental discharge.
EPA approved MassDEP's request for a Primacy Extension, extending Massachusetts' deadline to promulgate state PFAS drinking water regulations aligned with federal Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) to April 26, 2028. Massachusetts currently enforces a PFAS6 MCL of 20 ppt combined for six PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, PFHpA, and PFDA), while federal standards establish 4 ppt individual limits for PFOA and PFOS. MassDEP will propose amendments to state regulations to be at least as stringent as federal MCLs.
MassDEP has issued guidance clarifying that nine PFAS chemicals added to the federal TRI list for Reporting Year 2025 remain reportable under the TURA Certain PFAS NOL (Not Otherwise Listed) Category until formally added to the TURA chemical list. The TURA Administrative Council has voted on these substances and draft regulations have been published for public comment. The nine substances include Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (CAS 377-73-1), Ammonium perfluorodecanoate (CAS 3108-42-7), and Sodium perfluorodecanoate (CAS 3830-45-3), among others. Facilities preparing TURA reports for reporting year 2025 (due July 2026) should report these substances under the Certain PFAS NOL Category at the category threshold. Once formally added to the TURA list, these will become individually reportable at the 100-pound threshold.
House Bill 4870, reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Public Health with an 'ought to pass' recommendation, would establish a PFAS Remediation Trust Fund for contamination mitigation, ban consumer products with intentionally added PFAS (with temporary exemptions for currently unavoidable uses up to 4 years), require PFAS monitoring in groundwater and surface water discharge permits upon renewal, phase out sludge use without site-specific DEP approval, and mandate a multilingual public awareness campaign on PFAS health impacts. Earlier deadlines would apply to food packaging, children's products, and firefighting PPE.
On May 21, 2025, the TURA Administrative Council voted unanimously to add nine PFAS (added to TRI in 2025) to the TURA chemical list. Draft regulations have been published for public comment. TURA tracking for these substances begins January 1, 2026, with DEP reporting due July 1, 2027. Until formally added to the TURA list, these PFAS remain reportable under the Certain PFAS Not Otherwise Listed (NOL) Category for reporting year 2025. The substances are reportable individually at a 100-pound threshold with no de minimis exemption.
Massachusetts manages PFAS through a dual-track system. Under TURA, industrial facilities exceeding specific thresholds must track and report their use of listed PFAS categories. Concurrently, new state legislation has established a phased approach to eliminating intentionally added PFAS from consumer goods and industrial discharges to protect environmental justice populations and municipal water systems. The employee notification deadline is January 1, 2026; TURA reporting and planning are due by July 1, 2026; intentionally added PFAS in specified product categories were subject to elimination as of January 1, 2026; and sales of firefighter turnout gear containing PFAS are prohibited beginning in 2027.
Massachusetts has expanded PFAS reporting requirements under the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA). Seven PFAS were added to the TURA List effective January 1, 2025, with reports due to MassDEP by July 1, 2026. Nine additional PFAS were added effective January 1, 2026, with reports due by July 1, 2027. Reporting thresholds are 100 lbs for individual TRI-listed PFAS compounds and 25,000 lbs manufactured/processed or 10,000 lbs otherwise used for TURA category PFAS. The guidance establishes staggered timelines for TRI reporting, TURA tracking, and DEP reporting obligations across multiple PFAS categories.
Governor Maura Healey signed legislation mandating removal of PFAS from firefighter protective gear. The law prohibits sale of turnout gear containing PFAS effective January 2027 and requires warning labels on PFAS-treated gear beginning in 2025. Manufacturers selling PFAS-treated products must notify purchasers. Massachusetts and Connecticut are the first states to enact such firefighter protection laws.