S9073A

The New York State Senate passed legislation banning PFAS chemicals in cookware and other consumer products, advancing one of the nation's strictest restrictions on the so-called "forever chemicals" linked to contamination of drinking water systems statewide. Senate Print 9073A, sponsored by Sen. Harckham, passed 52-10 on a roll call vote. The bill would prohibit the sale of cookware and related items containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances beginning January 1, 2028. Harckham argued that New York must exceed federal protections to address what the National Institutes of Health estimates costs the healthcare system $37-59 billion annually. He cited Hoosick Falls, where combined settlements with manufacturers totaled over $92 million to remediate PFAS from drinking water. Sen. Stec led opposition, expressing concern that the bill's broad language defining cookware—using the phrase "and include"—could unintentionally capture major appliances like refrigerators and microwaves. Stec also noted that California, Vermont, Illinois, Canada, and France have excluded non-stick cookware from PFAS restrictions, arguing the approach creates unmanageable compliance burdens for manufacturers. Sen. May supported the measure, stating that PFAS is found in nearly all Americans' bodies and mother's milk, and that preventing contamination at the source is the Legislature's responsibility. Ten senators voted against the bill: Chan, Griffo, Lanza, Oberacker, Ortt, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, and Weik.