The Assembly today unanimously signed off on a compromise proposal to combat PFAS contamination, creating a path to release long-delayed funds to address contamination from the “forever chemicals.”
The package cleared after hours of negotiations that included various stakeholders and the Department of Natural Resources over the definition of “innocent landowners,” those who didn’t create the pollution but have the contamination on their property.
Both bills in the package cleared 93-0 and now go to the Senate. GOP Rep. Jeff Mursau, one of the co-authors, said there is a commitment from Gov. Tony Evers to sign it.
Shortly after passing the bills, the Assembly adjourned for the regular session, capping off four straight days of meeting to finish off its calendar.
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Evers and lawmakers have sought to approve a PFAS compromise since the Legislature first set aside $125 million in the 2023-25 budget to address the contamination. Evers vetoed a GOP proposal last session over his concerns it wouldn’t hold polluters accountable, and the pot of money grew to more than $132 million due to interest that accumulated as it sat unused.
AB 131 would establish programs and requirements to address PFAS contamination, including the creation of grant programs for municipalities, those labeled innocent landowners and others. It also includes exemptions to the state’s remediation law.
AB 130 was originally introduced to exempt five categories of parties from liability and requirements under the Spills Law. The substitute amendment would allocate $132.3 million from the segregated PFAS fund to implement programs proposed in AB 131, including $79.5 million to a community grant program.
