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119-hr-1267119th CongressWALLET

Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act

Sponsored By: Representative Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]

In Committee

Summary

Grants conditional CERCLA protection to many water and wastewater entities that handle certain PFAS lawfully. It defines which PFAS are covered and ties the exemption to following applicable laws and management practices.

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  • Public water systems, treatment works, municipalities with stormwater permits, state wholesale water agencies, and contractors can not be sued under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act for costs from a release of a "covered PFAS" when they transport, treat, dispose of, or arrange those activities in line with applicable law.
  • "Covered PFAS" means non‑polymeric PFAS with at least two sequential fully fluorinated carbon atoms, not including gases or volatile liquids, and that are hazardous substances under CERCLA. The protection applies during and after water conveyance or treatment activities such as biosolids management, discharge under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, disposal of treatment residuals, and conveyance or storage for water supply reuse.
  • The shield does not block liability if a protected entity acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct. Federal, state, or tribal actors are among those barred from recovering CERCLA costs from covered entities under this rule.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Protects water systems from PFAS lawsuits

If enacted, this bill would bar CERCLA cost or damages claims against many water and wastewater entities for certain PFAS releases. It would define a "covered PFAS" as a non‑polymeric PFAS with at least two sequential fully fluorinated carbon atoms, excluding gases and volatile liquids, that is a CERCLA hazardous substance. It would define "protected entities" to include public water systems, drinking and wastewater treatment works, some municipalities with stormwater permits, wholesale water agencies, and contractors. The shield would apply only when those entities handled the covered PFAS while following all applicable laws and when the activity occurred during or after conveying or treating water (for example, biosolids management consistent with Clean Water Act section 405, discharges under a CWA section 402 permit, disposal of treatment residuals like activated carbon or filter media, or conveyance/storage for water supply). The bill would not block claims if a protected entity acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]

WA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]

    KS • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2025

  • Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]

    ME • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16]

    IL • R

    Sponsored 3/18/2025

  • Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 3/24/2025

  • Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 3/24/2025

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

  • Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2025

  • Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 4/14/2025

  • Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 4/24/2025

  • Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 5/1/2025

  • Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/5/2025

  • Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/20/2025

  • Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2]

    AR • R

    Sponsored 5/23/2025

  • Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 6/3/2025

  • Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 6/12/2025

  • Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 6/17/2025

  • Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 7/29/2025

  • Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1]

    AR • R

    Sponsored 9/8/2025

  • Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 1/16/2026

  • Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 4/15/2026

  • Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2026

  • Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 5/7/2026

  • Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 5/12/2026

  • Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 6/8/2026

  • Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 6/8/2026

  • Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 6/15/2026

  • Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 6/22/2026

  • Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]

    KY • R

    Sponsored 7/30/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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