Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 8 R · 6 D cosponsors

SB 980 — An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, further providing for assistance to fire companies and EMS companies and providing for protection against PFAS chemicals and for firefighting protective equipment; in grants to fire companies and emergency medical services companies, further providing for award of grants; and imposing penalties.

Last action — Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, April 22, 2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced August 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 14 sponsors

    1 primary, 13 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (8 R · 6 D) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

PFAS Firefighting Foam

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

155 added · 188 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to Bill SB 980 introduce new restrictions on the use of PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam, specifically prohibiting the manufacture and sale of foams containing these chemicals by July 1, 2026, and their use by January 1, 2027. This change aims to protect both firefighters and the environment from the harmful effects of PFAS, which are linked to various health issues. Additionally, the bill retains provisions for providing assistance and grants to fire and emergency medical services, ensuring that these organizations can access necessary funding for equipment without restrictions related to PFAS contamination. Overall, these updates promote a safer approach to firefighting practices in Pennsylvania.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
1122 PRINTER'S NO.
1122 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
1624 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
980 2025 INTRODUCED BY YAW, MILLER, MALONE, TARTAGLIONE, SCHWANK, PENNYCUICK, STEFANO, J.
980 2025 INTRODUCED BY YAW, MILLER, MALONE, TARTAGLIONE, SCHWANK, STREET AND SANTARSIERO, AUGUST 25, 2025OGEL, ROBINSON, FARRY, SENATOR MASTRIANO, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AS AMENDED, APRIL 21, 2026 AN ACT Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, FURTHER <-- PROVIDING FOR ASSISTANCE TO FIRE COMPANIES AND EMS COMPANIES AND providing for protection against PFAS chemicals and for firefighting protective equipment;
WARD, CULVER AND VOGEL, AUGUST 25, 2025 REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AUGUST 25, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, providing for protection against PFAS chemicals and for firefighting emergency medical services companies, further providing for award of grants;
in grants to fire companies and emergency medical services companies, further providing for award of grants;
Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated <-- Statutes is amended by adding sections to read:
Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding sections to read:
SECTION 1.
SECTION 7364(A)(3) OF TITLE 35 OF THE <-- PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED TO READ:
§ 7364.
ASSISTANCE TO FIRE COMPANIES AND EMS COMPANIES.
(A) GENERAL RULE.--THE OFFICE IS AUTHORIZED, UPON APPLICATION OF ANY FIRE COMPANY OR EMS COMPANY, TO MAKE LOANS FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
* * * (3) PURCHASING PROTECTIVE, ACCESSORY OR COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT.
NO FIRE COMPANY OR EMS COMPANY SHALL RECEIVE A LOAN FOR PROTECTIVE, ACCESSORY OR COMMUNICATIVE EQUIPMENT MORE THAN ONCE IN ANY FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
EACH FIRE COMPANY OR EMS COMPANY MAY APPLY FOR A LOAN FOR A MOBILE AND PORTABLE RADIO UNIT FOR EACH EXISTING SERVICEABLE APPARATUS EQUIPMENT, AMBULANCE OR RESCUE VEHICLE.
RADIO EQUIPMENT OBTAINED THROUGH LOANS UNDER THIS SUBCHAPTER SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH A FREQUENCY OR FREQUENCIES LICENSED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION FOR FIREFIGHTING OR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PURPOSES.
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT OBTAINED THROUGH LOANS UNDER THIS SUBCHAPTER MUST MEET STANDARDS ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSIONER TO ENSURE THAT THE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT DOES NOT CONTAIN PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES.
A NOTARIZED FINANCIAL STATEMENT SHALL BE FILED AND LOANS UNDER THIS SUBCHAPTER FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROTECTIVE, ACCESSORY OR COMMUNICATIVE EQUIPMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED [$25,000] $100,000.
* * * SECTION 2.
TITLE 35 IS AMENDED BY ADDING SECTIONS TO READ:
(a) Firefighting foam management.-- (1) Except as provided under this subsection, beginning July 1, 2026 2027, a manufacturer may not manufacture or <-- knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale or distribute for use in this Commonwealth, class B firefighting foam containing an intentionally added PFAS chemical.
(a) Firefighting foam management.-- (1) Except as provided under this subsection, beginning July 1, 2026, a manufacturer may not manufacture or knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale or distribute for use in this Commonwealth, class B firefighting foam containing an intentionally added PFAS chemical.
(2) Except as provided under this subsection, beginning January 1, 2027 2028, a person, including a firefighting <-- entity, may not use class B firefighting foam containing an intentionally added PFAS chemical in this Commonwealth.
(2) Except as provided under this subsection, beginning January 1, 2027, a person, including a firefighting entity, may not use class B firefighting foam containing an intentionally added PFAS chemical in this Commonwealth.
(3) This subsection shall not apply to the manufacture, 20250SB0980PN1624 - 2 - sale, distribution or use of class B firefighting foam for which the inclusion of a PFAS chemical is required by Federal law, including 14 CFR 139.317 (relating to aircraft rescue and firefighting:
(3) This subsection shall not apply to the manufacture, sale, distribution or use of class B firefighting foam for which the inclusion of a PFAS chemical is required by Federal law, including 14 CFR 139.317 (relating to aircraft rescue and firefighting:
If a Federal requirement to include a PFAS chemical in class B firefighting foam is revoked after July 1, 2025 JANUARY 1, <-- 2027, this subsection shall not apply for one year after the requirement is revoked.
If a Federal requirement to include a PFAS chemical in class B firefighting foam is revoked after July 1, 2025, this subsection shall not apply for one year after the requirement is revoked.
The commissioner shall maintain a list <-- of vendors authorized to remove and incur liability in the transport and removal of the class B firefighting foam containing an intentionally added PFAS chemical.
The commissioner shall maintain a list of vendors authorized to remove and incur liability in the transport and removal of the class B firefighting foam 20250SB0980PN1122 - 2 - containing an intentionally added PFAS chemical.
(3) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL <-- SERVICES, MAINTAIN A LIST OF VENDORS AUTHORIZED TO REMOVE AND 20250SB0980PN1624 - 3 - INCUR LIABILITY IN THE TRANSPORT AND REMOVAL OF THE CLASS B FIREFIGHTING FOAM CONTAINING AN INTENTIONALLY ADDED PFAS CHEMICAL.
20250SB0980PN1624 - 4 - "Manufacturer." A person that manufactures, imports or distributes firefighting foam.
"Manufacturer." A person that manufactures, imports or distributes firefighting foam.
§ 7391.
20250SB0980PN1122 - 3 - § 7391.
(c) Violations.-- (1) A manufacturer shall be subject to a civil penalty 20250SB0980PN1624 - 5 - not to exceed $5,000 for a first violation and $10,000 for each subsequent violation.
(c) Violations.-- (1) A manufacturer shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a first violation and $10,000 for each subsequent violation.
(2) Money collected under paragraph (1) shall be transferred to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner for the Fire Company Grant Program and the Emergency Medical Services Grant Program.
20250SB0980PN1122 - 4 - (2) Money collected under paragraph (1) shall be transferred to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner for the Fire Company Grant Program and the Emergency Medical Services Grant Program.
Section 2 3.
Section 2.
Section 7813(a) of Title 35 is amended by <-- adding paragraphs to read:
Section 7813(a) of Title 35 is amended by adding paragraphs to read:
* * * (8) Disposal, transportation, storage and destruction of any unexpended stock of class B firefighting foam containing an intentionally added PFAS chemical in compliance with section 7390(b)(2) (relating to protection against PFAS 20250SB0980PN1624 - 6 - chemicals).
* * * (8) Disposal, transportation, storage and destruction of any unexpended stock of class B firefighting foam containing an intentionally added PFAS chemical in compliance with section 7390(b)(2) (relating to protection against PFAS chemicals).
(9) Purchase or acquisition of class B firefighting foam that does not contain an intentionally added PFAS chemical.
(9) Purchase or acquisition of class B firefighting foam 20250SB0980PN1122 - 5 - that does not contain an intentionally added PFAS chemical.
* * * Section 3 4.
* * * Section 3.
<-- (1) The addition of 35 Pa.C.S.
(1) The addition of 35 Pa.C.S.
20250SB0980PN1624 - 7 -
20250SB0980PN1122 - 6 -
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Action History

  1. Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, April 22, 2026

  2. Second consideration, April 22, 2026

  3. First consideration, April 21, 2026

  4. Reported as amended, April 21, 2026

  5. Referred to VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, Aug. 25, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 13 co-sponsors · 239 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (13)

Not signed on (239)

239 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 239 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety environment
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 980 do?
PFAS Firefighting Foam
Who sponsors SB 980?
SB 980 is sponsored by Judy Ward (Republican), Nick Miller (Democratic), Gene Yaw (Republican), James Andrew Malone (Democratic), Judith L. Schwank (Democratic), Tracy Pennycuick (Republican), Patrick J. Stefano (Republican), Lynda Schlegel Culver (Republican), Elder A. Vogel (Republican), Devlin J. Robinson (Republican), Sharif Street (Democratic), Steven J. Santarsiero (Democratic), Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), and Frank A. Farry (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 980?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced August 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 980?
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