North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 19 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB 881 — Per-fluoroalkyl and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances Free NC.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

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

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 09, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 20 sponsors

    3 primary, 17 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (19 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

299 added · 298 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes in House Bill 881 clarify the penalties for using PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a type of harmful chemical. The bill now specifies that the penalty for each occurrence of PFAS usage within the state can reach up to $10,000, with a cap of $200,000 for multiple violations in one month. These adjustments aim to strengthen enforcement against PFAS misuse, which is important for protecting public health and the environment in North Carolina.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 881 Short Title:
881 Apr 9, 2025 SESSION 2025 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH10413-CCfa-5 Short Title:
Representative Harrison.
Representatives Harrison, Butler, Colvin, and Cohn (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO BAN THE MANUFACTURE, USE, AND DISTRIBUTION OF PFAS AND PFAS-CONTAINING PRODUCTS WITHIN THE STATE, TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO PREVENT AND ADDRESS CONTAMINATION FROM THE DISCHARGE OF PFAS AND 1,4-DIOXANE IN THE STATE, AND TO DIRECT VARIOUS AGENCIES TO STUDY MATTERS ASSOCIATED WITH PFAS CONTAMINATION IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House April 10, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO BAN THE MANUFACTURE, USE, AND DISTRIBUTION OF PFAS AND PFAS-CONTAINING PRODUCTS WITHIN THE STATE, TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO PREVENT AND ADDRESS CONTAMINATION FROM THE DISCHARGE OF PFAS AND 1,4-DIOXANE IN THE STATE, AND TO DIRECT VARIOUS AGENCIES TO STUDY MATTERS ASSOCIATED WITH PFAS CONTAMINATION IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
(2) Use any PFAS for the production of any product within theState, or for export from the State, except for products specifically authorized or required to contain PFAS under federal law.
(2) Use anyPFAS for the production of anyproduct within theState, or for export from the State, except for products specifically authorized or required to contain PFAS under federal law.
(3) Process or distribute in commerce any PFAS, or any product containing PFAS, forusewithinthe Stateorforexport from theState, except forproducts specifically authorized or required to contain PFAS under federal law.
(3) Process or distribute in commerce any PFAS, or any product containing PFAS, forusewithinthe Stateorforexportfrom theState, except forproducts specifically authorized or required to contain PFAS under federal law.
(b) If any action or failure to act for which a penalty may be assessed under subsection (a) of this section is a repeat offense, the Secretary may assess a penalty not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per occurrence.
(b) If any action or failure to act for which a penalty may be assessed under subsection (a) of this section is a repeat offense, the Secretary may assess a penalty not to exceed ten *H881-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 thousand dollars ($10,000) per occurrence.
*DRH10413-CCfa-5* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (c) In determining the amount of the penalty, the Secretary shall consider the factors set out in G.S.
(c) In determining the amount of the penalty, the Secretary shall consider the factors set out in G.S.
143B-282.1 shall apply to civil penalty assessments that are presented to the Commission for final agency decision.
143B-282.1 shall applyto civil penalty assessments that are presented to the Commission for final agency decision.
Remission requestsshallnotbeconsideredunlessmadewithin30daysofreceiptofthenoticeofassessment.
Remission requestsshallnotbeconsideredunlessmadewithin30days ofreceiptofthenoticeofassessment.
(n) Any person who is required to obtain an NPDES permit under this Article that receives waste from an industrial user that includes PFAS or 1,4-dioxane shall eliminate these substances prior to discharge into waters of the State, and if elimination of PFAS or 1,4-dioxane by the NPDES permittee prior to discharge to waters of the State is economically or otherwise impracticable,theNPDESpermitteeshall requiretheindustrialuserto eliminate thesesubstances Page 2 DRH10413-CCfa-5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 from the user's discharge.
(n) Any person who is required to obtain an NPDES permit under this Article that receives waste from an industrial user that includes PFAS or 1,4-dioxane shall eliminate these substances prior to discharge into waters of the State, and if elimination of PFAS or 1,4-dioxane Page 2 House Bill 881-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 by the NPDES permittee prior to discharge to waters of the State is economically or otherwise impracticable,theNPDESpermitteeshall requiretheindustrialuserto eliminate thesesubstances from the user's discharge.
For purposes of this section, "PFAS" means per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom." 5 PART III.
For purposes of this section, "PFAS" means per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom." 7 PART III.
SECTION 5.(b) If, as a result of the study performed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Department of Environmental Quality finds that PFAS are likely to migrate from land application sites and accumulate at detectable levels in soil and water that are downgradient DRH10413-CCfa-5 Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 from such sites, the Environmental Management Commission shall adopt rules to prevent such migration or accumulation of the pollutant off-site.
SECTION 5.(b) If, as a result of the study performed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Department of Environmental Qualityfinds that PFAS are likelyto migrate from House Bill 881-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 land application sites and accumulate at detectable levels in soil and water that are downgradient from such sites, the Environmental Management Commission shall adopt rules to prevent such migration or accumulation of the pollutant off-site.
SECTION 6.(b) If, as a result of the study performed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Department ofEnvironmentalQuality findsthatPFAS in landfill leachatecannot be practicably removed from wastewater prior to discharge, the Environmental Management Commission shall adopt rules to prohibit the disposal of leachate containing detectable PFAS at wastewater treatment plants.
SECTION 6.(b) If, as a result of the study performed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Department ofEnvironmentalQualityfinds that PFAS in landfill leachatecannot be practicably removed from wastewater prior to discharge, the Environmental Management Commission shall adopt rules to prohibit the disposal of leachate containing detectable PFAS at wastewater treatment plants.
SECTION 6.(c) For purposes of this section, "detectable PFAS" means PFAS in an amount such that the presence, individual concentrations, and total concentrations can be assessed by a laboratory method certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or approved by the Department.
SECTION 6.(c) For purposes of this section, "detectable PFAS" means PFAS in an amount such that the presence, individual concentrations, and total concentrations can be assessed bya laboratory method certified bythe United States Environmental Protection Agency or approved by the Department.
The Secretaries' Science Advisory Board of the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Health and Human Services shall conduct a risk assessment, based on the best available scientific information, of the risks to human health presented by exposures to PFAS present in North Carolina in various media, including air, water, and soil, both as individual toxic substances and as a class of toxic substances.
The Secretaries' Science Advisory Board of the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Health and Human Services shall conduct a risk assessment, based on the best available scientific information, of the risks to human health presented byexposures to PFAS present in North Carolina in various media, includingair, water, and soil, both as individual toxic substances and as a class of toxic substances.
The Department of Health and Human Services shall develop and implement a program, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Quality, to (i) study the estimated human exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Cape Fear River Basin and (ii) conduct an epidemiological study of populations in the Cape Fear River Basin to identify disparities in disease prevalence that are consistent with long-term exposures to PFAS.
The Department of Health and Human Services shall develop and implement a program, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Quality, to (i) study the estimated human exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Cape Fear River Basin and (ii) conduct an epidemiological study of populations in the Cape Fear River Basin to identify disparities in disease prevalence that are consistent with long-term exposures to Page 4 House Bill 881-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 PFAS.
No later than December 31, 2026, the Department shall issue a final report on its findings Page 4 DRH10413-CCfa-5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 under these studies, including any recommendations for legislative action, to the Environmental Review Commission.
No later than December 31, 2026, the Department shall issue a final report on its findings under these studies, including any recommendations for legislative action, to the Environmental Review Commission.
The North Carolina Policy Collaboratory shall study the ongoing and anticipated future costs of the aggregate impact of the discharge, emission, and contamination of PFAS in North Carolina, including the costs of sampling, testing, cleanup, and decontamination;
The North Carolina PolicyCollaboratoryshall study the ongoing and anticipated future costs of the aggregate impact of the discharge, emission, and contamination of PFAS in North Carolina, including the costs of sampling, testing, cleanup, and decontamination;
The Collaboratory shall report its findings to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committeeon Government Operations, theJoint LegislativeOversight CommitteeonHealthand Human Services, and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources no later than September 1, 2026.
The Collaboratory shall report its findings to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committeeon Government Operations, theJoint Legislative Oversight Committeeon Healthand Human Services, and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources no later than September 1, 2026.
The Environmental Review Commission shall study actions taken by other states to promote and expand the practice of green chemistry to reduce the generation and use of hazardous chemicals and to drive sustainable alternatives to the manufacture and use of PFAS and other emerging contaminants.
The Environmental Review Commission shall studyactions taken by other states to promote and expand the practice of green chemistry to reduce the generation and use of hazardous chemicals and to drive sustainable alternatives to the manufacture and use of PFAS and other emerging contaminants.
FUNDING FOR STUDIES CONDUCTED BY STATE AGENCIES SECTION 16.(a) The sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Quality to carry out the studies required by Sections 8 and 9 of this act.
FUNDING FOR STUDIES CONDUCTED BY STATE AGENCIES SECTION 16.(a) The sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year is appropriated from the General Fund to the House Bill 881-First Edition Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 Department of Environmental Quality to carry out the studies required by Sections 8 and 9 of this act.
DRH10413-CCfa-5 Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 16.(b) The sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out the studies required by Section 10 of this act.
SECTION 16.(b) The sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out the studies required by Section 10 of this act.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PFAS MATTERS SECTION 17.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Quality the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year for the Bernard Allen Drinking Water Fund to fund drinking water treatment systems for individuals, businesses, and community water systems with covered wells.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PFAS MATTERS SECTION 17.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Qualitythe sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year for the Bernard Allen Drinking Water Fund to fund drinking water treatment systems for individuals, businesses, and community water systems with covered wells.
The Department shall finalize the PFAS Chemical Action Plan no later than January 1, 2027, and shall initiate implementation of the Plan no later than April 1, 2027.
The Department shall finalize the PFAS Chemical Action Plan no later than January1, 2027, and shall initiate implementation of the Plan no later than April 1, 2027.
The study shall include an analysis of the effectiveness and safety of current technologies, including those presently at bench and pilot scales.
The study shall include an analysis of the effectiveness and safety of current technologies, Page 6 House Bill 881-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 including those presently at bench and pilot scales.
In the conduct of this study, the Department may coordinate with, and review research conducted by, other entities such as the Strategic Page 6 DRH10413-CCfa-5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 Environmental Research and Development Program.
In the conduct of this study, the Department may coordinate with, and review research conducted by, other entities such as the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program.
SECTION 17.(g) For purposes of this section, "detectable PFAS" means PFAS in an amount such that the presence, individual concentrations, and total concentrations can be assessed by a laboratory method certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or approved by the Department.
SECTION 17.(g) For purposes of this section, "detectable PFAS" means PFAS in an amount such that the presence, individual concentrations, and total concentrations can be assessed bya laboratory method certified bythe United States Environmental Protection Agency or approved by the Department.
DRH10413-CCfa-5 Page 7
House Bill 881-First Edition Page 7
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 17 co-sponsors · 159 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (17)

Not signed on (159)

159 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 159 →

"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
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 881?
HB 881 is sponsored by Brian Turner (Democratic), Phil Rubin (Democratic), Renée A. Price (Democratic), Marcia Morey (Democratic), Jordan Lopez (Democratic), Carolyn G. Logan (Democratic), Zack Hawkins (Democratic), Julia Greenfield (Democratic), Aisha O. Dew (Democratic), Maria Cervania (Democratic), Gloristine Brown (Democratic), Mary Belk (Democratic), Cynthia Ball (Democratic), Eric Ager (Democratic), Bryan Cohn (Democratic), Mike Colvin (Democratic), Deb Butler (Democratic), Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Neal Jackson (Republican), and Julie von Haefen (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 881?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 09, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 881?
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