Governor signs Sen. Ingwersen bill to formalize first-in-the-nation PFAS response program
AUGUSTA — On May 9, 2025, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law a bill sponsored by Sen. Henry Ingwersen, D-Arundel that will formalize the PFAS response program at the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Additional provisions related to PFAS levels in food make LD 130, “An Act to Establish the PFAS Response Program and to Modify the Fund to Address PFAS Contamination” the first bill of its kind in the United States.
“With this legislation, Maine is leading the nation in addressing this serious public health and environmental crisis,” said Sen. Ingwersen. “This bill marks a critical step in mitigating the harms of PFAS and providing support for those who have been exposed to PFAS. I’m grateful to my colleagues in the Legislature who gave this bill strong support and to the Governor for signing this bill into law.”
LD 130 will formally establish the existing PFAS Response Program at the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. This bill would also establish the Department’s ability to codify maximum level for PFAS in food. The program also includes establishing maximum PFAS levels in farm products, in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services.
PFAS, also called “forever chemicals,” are man-made chemicals that have been widely used and linked to potential negative health effects. These chemicals have been found in a wide range of industrial and consumer products, including firefighting foam and cookware.
The bill is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
In the 131st Legislature, Sen. Ingwersen sponsored LD 1537, which is phasing out the sale of products containing PFAS in Maine through January 1, 2032.
LD 130 will go into effect 90 days after the First Special Session of the Legislature adjourns sine die.
