WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

A 5537

Relates to licensing consumer debt collectors

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Burdick and 5 co-sponsors

The bill bans PFAS-containing class B firefighting foam in most uses by Jan 1, 2027, with limited exemptions for specific industrial settings and strict reporting/containment rules

REFERRED TO BANKS
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 5537

Summary — A5537 (as reported by Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee, 6/19/2025)

Note: The document text provided for A5537 concerns restrictions on PFAS in class B firefighting foam. The bill title supplied earlier (“Relates to licensing consumer debt collectors”) appears to be incorrect for this content; this summary reflects the firefighting-foam/PFAS provisions in the bill text and committee report.

Purpose

To amend P.L.2023, c.243 to further restrict the use, sale, manufacture, and distribution of class B firefighting foam that contains intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), while providing limited, time-limited exemptions and imposing reporting and containment requirements for permitted uses.

Key provisions

  • Broad prohibition: Amends existing law to bar, beginning two years after the effective date of P.L.2023, c.243, the use, sale, manufacture, or distribution in New Jersey of class B firefighting foam with intentionally added PFAS, except where exemptions apply.
  • Fire department ban: As amended by committee, expressly prohibits fire departments from using PFAS-containing class B foam beginning January 1, 2027 (this provides an additional year of use relative to the original statutory schedule).
  • Federal-exemption: Does not apply where PFAS inclusion is required by federal law or regulation (e.g., 14 C.F.R. s.139.317). If a federal requirement is revoked, the state prohibition applies one year after revocation.
  • Fixed-system exemption: Facilities with fixed foam suppression systems designed for 110% containment may use PFAS-containing foam until four years after the effective date of P.L.2023, c.243, subject to strict containment and reporting rules.
  • Oil refinery/petroleum terminal exemption: Owners/operators may use PFAS-containing foam for:
    • Storage tanks with surface area ≥120 square meters, or
    • Fuel-in-depth pools, until eight years after the statute’s effective date, subject to containment, reporting, and disclosure requirements.
  • Waiver process for refineries/terminals:
    • Applicants must disclose intent, may seek waivers (term ≤ 2 years, one extension permitted).
    • Waivers expire no later than 12 years after the statute’s effective date.
    • Waiver criteria include demonstration that no commercially available PFAS-free alternative exists for the specific use, submission of transition plans, quantities used, and public comment opportunities. A fee may be charged to cover administration.
  • Reporting and containment obligations:
    • Any use under the fixed-system or refinery/terminal exemptions must be reported to the Commissioner of Community Affairs within five business days after use (including foam identity, quantity, total PFAS concentration, application, and fire duration).
    • Users must avoid direct releases to the environment, fully contain releases onsite, implement impervious containment measures (e.g., bunds, ponds), and properly manage/dispose of firefighting wastewater to prevent environmental discharge.
  • Appropriation removed: Committee amendments deleted an appropriation that had been included in the introduced version (a General Fund reimbursement to DEP/municipalities).

Who would be affected

  • Fire departments statewide (subject to the Jan 1, 2027 ban)
  • Manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of class B firefighting foam
  • Owners/operators of facilities using fixed foam suppression systems
  • Oil refineries and petroleum terminals (subject to disclosure, waiver, and containment rules)
  • State agencies: Department/Commissioner of Community Affairs and Department of Environmental Protection (administration, oversight, and reporting)
  • Municipalities that use or previously procured PFAS-containing foam

Timing and procedural status

  • Introduced: April 10, 2025
  • Reported out of Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee with amendments: June 19, 2025 (1st committee report; placed on 2nd reading)
  • Committee amendment: removed the appropriation and set the explicit Jan 1, 2027 date for fire departments.
  • Related/companion measure: S4346 (and other prior-session bills listed).

Likely impact

  • Accelerates elimination of PFAS-containing firefighting foams from most municipal and fire service use by Jan 1, 2027.
  • Allows phased, regulated continuation of PFAS-foam use in specialized industrial settings where alternatives may not yet be viable, but imposes reporting, containment, and transition expectations.
  • Removes a previously proposed state reimbursement appropriation (shifts potential financial burdens for compliance/transition to affected entities unless other funding is provided).

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

Sign in to ask a question.