Vermont’s legislature has passed HB 238, which addresses the phase-out of consumer products containing added PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). The bill now heads to Vermont Governor Phil Scott’s desk for his signature.
Among its provisions, the legislation tasks Vermont Agency of Natural Resources with submitting a recommendation by Jan. 15, 2033, to legislative committees on how to address PFAS in “complex durable goods.”
Under the bill, Vermont defines a complex durable good as a manufactured consumer product composed of 100 or more components, designed for a useful life of at least five years, and not typically discarded after a single use. This definition includes RVs. (Products used within the RV industry that may contain PFAS include but are not limited to textile articles, carpets, rugs, fabric treatment, furnishings, upholstery, flame retardants, adhesives, solar components and semiconductors.)
PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” are a class of man-made chemicals used in countless consumer products that are most known for their material properties such as resistance to water, oil, friction and increased durability. The strong carbon-fluorine bonds of PFAS make some of them resistant to degradation and thus highly persistent in the environment. Some of these chemicals have been used for decades in a wide variety of consumer and industrial products.
Both the federal government and various state legislatures are taking action to require reporting and/or restrict or ban the use of PFAS in numerous products. The passage of Vermont’s HB 238 is the latest legislative measure taken on this issue.
The RV Industry Association, its PFAS working group, and coalition partners will continue to actively engage with Vermont policymakers as the state considers regulatory pathways for PFAS in these products.
To learn more about PFAS legislation, visit the RV Industry Association’s bill tracker or comprehensive PFAS FAQ. Questions on HB 238 can be directed to Legislative Associate Gianna Dinnini at gdinnini@rvia.org.
