SB 273

Environment – PFAS Chemicals – Prohibitions and Requirements (George “Walter” Taylor Act)

Sponsor: Senator ElfrethCommittee: Education, Health, and Environmental AffairsSubject: EnvironmentStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 139 (as of Nov 15, 2022)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting, on or after January 1, 2024, a person from using, manufacturing, or knowingly selling or distributing Class B fire-fighting foam that contains intentionally added PFAS chemicals in the State; prohibiting, on or after January 1, 2024, a person from manufacturing or knowingly selling or distributing a certain rug or carpet; prohibiting, on or after January 1, 2024, certain persons from manufacturing or knowingly selling or distributing certain food packaging designed for direct food contact in the State; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (65)

MGA witness list

FAV 51FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 9UnfavorableINFO 2Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Guitarra, Denisselobbyist	Audubon Naturalist Society	Written (PDF)
FAV	Guitarra, Denisselobbyist	Audubon Naturalist Society	Written (PDF)
FAV	Avins, Miriam	Baltimore City Commission on Sustainability	Written (PDF)
FAV	Beller, Joel	Baltimore County Government	Written (PDF)
FAV	Beller, Joel	Baltimore County Government	Written (PDF)
FAV	Skinner, Thomas	Baltimore Fire Officers	Position only
FAV	Wilkinson, nanci	Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church Environmental Justice Ministry	Written (PDF)
FAV	Clark, Robin Jessicalobbyist	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Myers, Doug	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	DuBois, Gwen	Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility	Written (PDF)
FAV	DuBois, Gwen	Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hayes, Justin	Comptroller of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bartlett, Olivia	DoTheMostGood	Position only
FAV	Bartlett, Olivia	DoTheMostGood	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rose, Jodilobbyist	Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake	Position only
FAV	Tulkin, Joshlobbyist	MD Sierra Club	Written (PDF)
FAV	Younts, Diana	MLC Climate Justice Wing	Position only
FAV	Younts, Diana	MLC Climate Justice Wing	Position only
FAV	Butchko, Dominic	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Miller, Claire	Maryland Campaign for Environmental Human Rights	Written (PDF)
FAV	Miller, Claire	Maryland Campaign for Environmental Human Rights	Written (PDF)
FAV	Boyd, Linda	Maryland Episcopal Public Policy Network	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bogdan, Henrylobbyist	Maryland Nonprofits	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bogdan, Henrylobbyist	Maryland Nonprofits	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schwarz, Kurt	Maryland Ornithological Society	Written (PDF)
FAV	Scarr, Emilylobbyist	Maryland PIRG	Written (PDF)
FAV	Scarr, Emilylobbyist	Maryland PIRG	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Scarr, Emilylobbyist	Maryland PIRG	Position only
FAV	Eck, Raimee	Maryland Public Health Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Phillips, Robert	Maryland State Firefighter's Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Birnbaum, Linda	NIEHS/NTP and Duke University	Oral
FAV	Hucker, Tom	NRDC	Oral
FAV	Walls, Brent	Potomac Riverkeeper Network	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Buddle, Jeffrey	Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bragg, Melissa	Professional Firefighters of Maryland	Position only
FAV	Fine, Maureen	Salutation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Younts, Diana	Takoma Park Mobilization Environment Committee	Position only
FAV	Arndt, Dave	Individual	Position only
FAV	Ceruolo, Rich	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ceruolo, Rich	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Davlin, Sharon	Individual	Position only
FAV	Deutschmann, Richard	Individual	Position only
FAV	Elfreth, Sarah	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ranson, Emilylobbyist	Individual	Position only
FAV	Ranson, Emilylobbyist	Individual	Position only
FAV	Rathell, Jeffrey	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Elfreth, Senator Elfrethlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Elfreth, Senator Elfrethlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Taylor, Christine	Individual	Oral
UNF	Swearingen, Shawn	Alliance for Telomer Chemistry Stewardship	Written (PDF)
UNF	Swearingen, Shawn	Alliance for Telomer Chemistry Stewardship	Oral
UNF	Simon, Robert	American Chemistry Council	Oral
UNF	Olds, Elizabethlobbyist	American Forest & Paper Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lewis, Katie	Cecil County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Hubert, Mitch	Fire Fighting Foam Coalition	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Voytek, Maddy	MD Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	locklair, caileylobbyist	Maryland Retailers Association	Oral
UNF	Ratchford, Michaellobbyist	W.L. Gore & Associates	Oral + Written (PDF)

Showing 60 of 65

Organizations on record

Alliance for Telomer Chemistry StewardshipUNF 2

American Chemistry CouncilUNF 1

American Forest & Paper AssociationUNF 1

Audubon Naturalist SocietyFAV 2

Baltimore City Commission on SustainabilityFAV 1

Baltimore County GovernmentFAV 2

Baltimore Fire OfficersFAV 1

Cecil County Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFAV 2

Chesapeake Physicians for Social ResponsibilityFAV 2

Commissioners of St. Mary's CountyFWA 1

Comptroller of MarylandFAV 1

DoTheMostGoodFAV 2

Fire Fighting Foam CoalitionUNF 1

Interfaith Partners for the ChesapeakeFAV 1

Manis Canning & AssociatesFWA 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)FAV 1FWA 1

Maryland Campaign for Environmental Human RightsFAV 2

Maryland Department of the EnvironmentINFO 2

Maryland Episcopal Public Policy NetworkFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 2

Maryland NonprofitsFAV 2

Maryland Ornithological SocietyFAV 1

Maryland PIRGFAV 3

Maryland Public Health AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Retailers AssociationUNF 1

Maryland State Firefighter's AssociationFAV 1

MD Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

MD Sierra ClubFAV 1

MLC Climate Justice WingFAV 2

NIEHS/NTP and Duke UniversityFAV 1

NRDCFAV 1

Potomac Riverkeeper NetworkFAV 1

Professional Fire Fighters of MarylandFAV 1

Professional Firefighters of MarylandFAV 1

SalutationFAV 1

Takoma Park Mobilization Environment CommitteeFAV 1

W.L. Gore & AssociatesUNF 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVGuitarra, DenisseAudubon Naturalist SocietyRegistered for: Nature Forward

FAVClark, Robin JessicaChesapeake Bay FoundationRegistered for: Chesapeake Bay Foundation; American Heart Association; Indivior, Inc.

FAVRose, JodiInterfaith Partners for the ChesapeakeRegistered for: Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake

FAVTulkin, JoshMD Sierra ClubRegistered for: Sierra Club Maryland Chapter

FAVBogdan, HenryMaryland NonprofitsRegistered for: Maryland Nonprofits

FAVScarr, EmilyMaryland PIRGRegistered for: Maryland PIRG Citizen Lobby

FAVRanson, EmilyRegistered for: Clean Water Action

UNFOlds, ElizabethAmerican Forest & Paper AssociationRegistered for: American Forest & Paper Association

UNFlocklair, caileyMaryland Retailers AssociationRegistered for: HPSO Investments LLC, T/A Riverboat on the Potomac; Maryland Retailers Alliance; Maryland Retailers Association

UNFRatchford, MichaelW.L. Gore & AssociatesRegistered for: W.L. Gore & Associates

Journey

Jan 17First reading in the SenateAssigned to Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Feb 2Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs hearingWed, Feb 2, 1:00 PM
Feb 25Committee report: Favorable with Amendments
Feb 20Second reading (Senate): Passed with Amendments
Feb 21Third reading (Senate): Passed
Feb 26First reading in the HouseAssigned to Health and Government Operations
Mar 30Health and Government Operations hearing (House)Wed, Mar 30, 1:30 PM
Apr 8Committee report (House): Favorable with Amendments
Mar 30Second reading (House): Passed with Amendments
Mar 31Third reading (House): Passed with Amendments
Mar 31Concurred
Mar 31Enacted as Chapter 139Signing date is not in the MGA feed

Documents

Same bill, other years

2021 SB 195Did not advance
2021 HB 22Did not advance

Matched by title. Attempt 3 of this idea.