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‘Forever chemicals’ ban could be GOP priority
Easing a wide-ranging ban on products containing "forever chemicals" – also known as PFAS – could be the aim of Republican lawmakers during the legislative session this year.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - An early legislative priority for Republicans in Minnesota could be to go after a law designed to prevent pollution from "forever chemicals" known as PFAS.
PFAS plan
What we know:
Amara’s Law took effect this month, banning the "forever chemicals" in 11 categories of products.
Supporters don't seem worried about the entire law disappearing, just pieces of it.
Minnesota’s is the most extensive PFAS ban in the country in the state where PFAS originated.
So they worry that chipping away at the law would send a message around the world.
Republican priority
Dig deeper:
The state's ban on a lot of products made with PFAS has recently recaptured the attention of Republicans.
"What it did is it went too far," said Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar, (R-Fredenburg Township).
Sitting on a youth-sized all-terrain vehicle (ATV), Rep. Zeleznikar highlighted the ban on youth products with PFAS, which includes dirt bikes and smaller ATVs.
She’s calling for change in a social media post, saying, "This will be one of the first bills, I'm guessing, that Republicans will have on the floor."
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Youth motorsports hit by PFAS ban
A new law taking effect on Jan. 1 in Minnesota will limit the use of PFAS "forever chemicals" in products – in turn creating a ban on certain youth motorsports equipment.
Potential changes
What's next:
Sen. Judy Seeberger authored Amara’s Law, partly because the water at her Afton home is contaminated by PFAS.
She said she’s sensitive to frustrated dealers who have inventory manufacturers won’t take back.
"Small businesses should not be put in that position," said Sen. Seeberger. "I'm prepared to defend them and help them in any way that I can, but I'm certainly not going to do anything to give a break to the big industry that put them in this place in the first place."
The cookware industry filed a lawsuit this week saying Amara’s Law is unconstitutional, and their products don’t leach PFAS into our food.
Amara's Legacy
Big picture view:
The law was named for Amara Strande, who testified at the Capitol before she died from a rare cancer she believed was caused by PFAS.
Her younger sister says industries profiting from PFAS should invest in finding alternatives.
"Amara addressed industry two years ago in the same building and said 'It is your time to shine,'" said Nora Strande. "I hold on to that message. Be the solution. Work with us. We want businesses to succeed. Just not at the price of our lives."
The original bill passed the House 72-57, so it’s unlikely to get reversed in whole even with Republicans gaining at least three seats this year.
GOP members didn’t respond to our request for comment Friday.