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California Governor Prevents PFAS Prohibitions

Earlier this week, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed three pieces of legislation that sought to ban per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-containing cleaning products, menstrual goods, and artificial turf in the state.

One of the rejected measures (AB 246) would have banned the manufacture, distribution, and sale of most PFAS-containing menstrual articles in California effective in 2025, as Minnesota must do under similar legislation passed this spring. Another California bill (AB 727) aimed to prohibit cleaning items beginning in 2026, as required a year earlier in Minnesota.

According to Newsom, the proposed legislation does not identify or require any regulatory agency to determine compliance with, or enforce, the proposed statute. In his veto message, Newsome stated, “While I strongly support the author’s intent and have signed similar legislation in the past, I am concerned this bill falls short of providing enhanced protection to California consumers due to lack of regulatory oversight.”