Firefighters: personal protective equipment.
- Requires elimination of toxic PFAS chemicals from all firefighter protective equipment by January 2027.
- Mandates manufacturers to certify their firefighting gear is free of PFAS and other harmful flame retardants.
- Establishes new safety standards for firefighter protective equipment based on scientific research.
- Requires state safety officials to report on implementation progress by July 2026.
Assembly Member Haney's legislation targeting the elimination of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) mandates new safety standards by January 2027. The bill requires the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to modify existing safety orders to prohibit PFAS and other potentially harmful chemical substitutes in firefighter gear, while establishing certification requirements for PPE manufacturers.
The measure directs the Standards Board to develop new PPE requirements based on scientific research that meet or exceed the 2025 National Fire Protection Association Standard 1970. Manufacturers must certify their products are free of PFAS and specified alternative substances like brominated flame retardants to receive approval for use in California. The Division of Occupational Safety and Health must report to the Governor and Legislature by July 2026 on progress implementing the modified standards.
This builds upon California's existing five-year review cycle for firefighter PPE standards, which requires the Standards Board to evaluate National Fire Protection Association updates and adopt changes that enhance personal protection. The bill's findings cite research linking PFAS exposure to various cancers and note the chemicals' current use in PPE moisture barriers to meet flame resistance requirements. The findings also reference California's previous restrictions on PFAS-containing firefighting foams through 2020 legislation.
This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.
Introduced By
Latest Voting History
 Ash KalraD Assembly Member | Committee Member |  Not Contacted | |
 Phillip ChenR Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Heath FloraR Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Alex LeeD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Chris WardD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted |
| Bill Number | Title | Introduced Date | Status | Link to Bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AB-589 | Firefighters: personal protective equipment. | February 2025 | Introduced |
- Requires elimination of toxic PFAS chemicals from all firefighter protective equipment by January 2027.
- Mandates manufacturers to certify their firefighting gear is free of PFAS and other harmful flame retardants.
- Establishes new safety standards for firefighter protective equipment based on scientific research.
- Requires state safety officials to report on implementation progress by July 2026.
This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.
Introduced By
Assembly Member Haney's legislation targeting the elimination of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) mandates new safety standards by January 2027. The bill requires the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to modify existing safety orders to prohibit PFAS and other potentially harmful chemical substitutes in firefighter gear, while establishing certification requirements for PPE manufacturers.
The measure directs the Standards Board to develop new PPE requirements based on scientific research that meet or exceed the 2025 National Fire Protection Association Standard 1970. Manufacturers must certify their products are free of PFAS and specified alternative substances like brominated flame retardants to receive approval for use in California. The Division of Occupational Safety and Health must report to the Governor and Legislature by July 2026 on progress implementing the modified standards.
This builds upon California's existing five-year review cycle for firefighter PPE standards, which requires the Standards Board to evaluate National Fire Protection Association updates and adopt changes that enhance personal protection. The bill's findings cite research linking PFAS exposure to various cancers and note the chemicals' current use in PPE moisture barriers to meet flame resistance requirements. The findings also reference California's previous restrictions on PFAS-containing firefighting foams through 2020 legislation.
Latest Voting History
Ash KalraD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Phillip ChenR Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Heath FloraR Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Alex LeeD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Chris WardD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted |
| Bill Number | Title | Introduced Date | Status | Link to Bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AB-589 | Firefighters: personal protective equipment. | February 2025 | Introduced |