Senate committee hears substitute to ban PFAS firefighting foam with limited emergency waivers

Senator Townsend presented House Substitute 1 for HB356, a bill to prohibit the use of firefighting foam containing PFAS beginning January 2028, create a controlled waiver system for bulk petroleum facilities in active emergencies, require written disclosure if protective equipment contains PFAS, and add product‑recall provisions.

Doug Dennison of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control told the committee DNREC supports the substitute and expects to carry out modest administrative tasks with the existing Waste and Hazardous Substances Division resources without requesting additional funds. Kat Caudle, Government Relations Manager for the Delaware Academy of Medicine & Public Health, urged passage on health and environmental grounds, calling PFAS "forever chemicals" linked to chronic disease and supporting steps to keep them out of the environment and firefighter gear. Jay Jones, representing the Delaware volunteer fire service, said most companies have already switched to PFAS‑free foams following earlier funding and supported the bill, noting that PFAS‑free gear performance is improving though some early products were less satisfactory.

Committee members asked technical questions about implementation and waivers; no floor vote on HS1 for HB356 was taken during the hearing.