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A 5584

Prohibits certain uses of perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Alixon Collazos-Gill

Prohibits all commerce uses of TCE and all consumer/commercial uses of PCE; requires DEP to adopt rules mirroring EPA's December 2024 PCE/TCE regs within two years.

Reported and Referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee
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Bill Summary · A 5584

Summary: Assembly Bill A-5584 – Prohibits certain uses of perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE)

Overview

  • Bill: A-5584
  • Title: Prohibits certain uses of perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene
  • Status: Reported by the Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee; referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee
  • Introduced: February 18, 2025
  • Primary sponsors: Andrea Bailey (primary); Matthew Simpson (cosponsor)
  • Related: Identical to Senate Bill S-4126; companion bills include S-3481 and A-8421 from prior sessions

Purpose and intent

A-5584 aims to reduce health and environmental risks associated with PCE and TCE by prohibiting certain uses and requiring regulatory action. Specifically, the bill seeks to:
- Prohibit all uses in commerce of TCE
- Prohibit all consumer and commercial uses of PCE, and require employers to protect workers from exposure at facilities that use PCE
- Require the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to adopt rules implementing these prohibitions
- Require the DEP to codify, at the state level, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) December 2024 regulations governing PCE and TCE

The bill notes health risks identified by the EPA, including cancer and various organ toxicities, to justify tighter controls.

Key provisions

  • Definitions (Section 1a):

    • CASRN numbers for PCE (127-18-4) and TCE (79-01-6)
    • DEP: Department of Environmental Protection

  • Rulemaking requirements (Section 1b):

    • Within two years after the act’s effective date, DEP must adopt rules to:
    • (1) Prohibit all uses in commerce of TCE
    • (2) Prohibit all consumer and commercial uses of PCE and require facility operators using PCE to implement measures protecting workers from exposure
    • The DEP must follow the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) for rulemaking

  • Federal alignment (Section 1c):

    • State rules must be substantively identical to EPA rules published in the Federal Register on December 17–18, 2024, including any delayed effective dates and exemptions

  • Federal preemption (Section 1d):

    • Any uses of PCE or TCE that are preempted by the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) are exempt from A-5584

  • Effective date (Section 2):

    • The act takes effect immediately

Scope and affected parties

  • Industries and uses affected:
    • TCE: All uses in commerce would be prohibited
    • PCE: All consumer and commercial uses would be prohibited
    • Facilities that utilize PCE: Must implement worker-protection measures to reduce exposure
  • Workers: Potentially significant health-protection benefits due to stricter exposure controls
  • Businesses: Dry cleaners, brake/adhesive manufacturers,工业 cleaning/degreasing operations, and various sectors relying on PCE or TCE would need to transition away from these chemicals or modify practices to comply with state rules mirroring federal regulations

Timeline and process

  • Rulemaking timeline: DEP has up to two years after the act’s effective date to adopt implementing regulations
  • Immediate effect: The act itself takes effect immediately upon enactment
  • Administrative pathway: DEP to use APA process for rule adoption
  • Federal-regulatory alignment: State rules must mirror EPA December 2024 regulations

Administrative and political context

  • Reporting: ENR/Solid Waste Committee favorable report
  • Legislative action sequence: Introduced in February 2025; moved through committees; aligned with companion Senate bill S-4126
  • Policy objective: Strengthen chemical exposure protections and harmonize state regulations with recent federal standards

Notes

  • The bill includes a preemption safeguard for TSCA-preempted uses, ensuring consistency with federal law
  • If enacted, New Jersey would implement one of the stricter chemical-use regimes for PCE and TCE, with a structured timeline for rulemaking and direct alignment to federal standards.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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