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HB 1275 · 2026 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

PFAS rules for farms and water

AI-generated

(Second New Title) relative to the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on agriculture, exempting certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl products from use restrictions, and relative to the definition of "drinking water standard".

Grants farmers civil immunity for PFAS-related harms from standard agricultural practices including biosolid land application, directs DES to set PFAS concentration standards for land-applied biosolids, exempts certain PFAS products from use restrictions, and revises the drinking water standard definition.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 16, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Grants immunity from civil liability to farmers for damages resulting from claims based on harms caused by certain per and poly fluorinated alkyl substances present in soil, water, or agricultural products. II. Requires the department of environmental services to develop concentration-based standards for PFAS in biosolids at land-application sites. III. Exempts certain per and polyfluoroalkyl products from use restrictions. IV. Amends the definition of "drinking water standard" as it pertains to maximum contaminant levels in certain water management and protection funds and programs.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Any person engaged in the practice of farming shall be immune from suit and civil liability for any damages resulting from claims based on harms caused by per and poly fluorinated alkyl substances present in soil, water, or agricultural products as a result of standard agricultural practices, including the land application of sludge or biosolids. 298:2 Water Pollution and Waste Disposal;”
RSA 431:37
“Sludge or biosolids which are to be land applied in New Hampshire shall not exceed the maximum concentrations for specific chemical contaminants contained in the rules of the department, or the rules or regulations of the state in which the sludge was generated, whichever are more stringent.”
RSA 485-A:5-d
“By June 30, 2027, the department shall initiate rulemaking under RSA 541-A to develop concentration-based standards for PFAS in biosolids at land-application sites.”
RSA 485-A:5-d
“Such standards shall be set for those PFAS compounds for which an ambient groundwater quality standard has been established under RSA 485-C.”
RSA 485-A:5-d

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Wendy ThomasDPrime

Rep. Nancy MurphyD

Public testimony

312 signed in online · 100 wrote testimony

88% support12% oppose0% neutral

ForPFAS-contaminated sludge has ruined farms elsewhere

AgainstWould create a biosolids disposal crisis

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Historical PFAS contamination on agricultural land is a piece of the PFAS puzzle that our state is stepping around. Agricultural land was not included in the USGS soil survey that was the basis for our recently enacted soil standards showing PFAS presence all across our state.…”
— Laurene Allen, Merrimack · Merrimack Citizens for Clean Watersupports
“I write as a vegetable and fruit farmer in NH, growing food for NH famlies for forty years. The threat of PFAS getting into farmland and making it unsafe to grow food crops should be avoided.…”
— David Trumble, Wearesupports
“I agree that the practice of land application of sewage sludge should be curtailed until the sources of PFAS entering all municipal systems can be eliminated. This problem needs attention at the state level as it is pervasive in our daily life.”
— MICHAEL PAZDON, Durhamsupports
“This bill is very detrimental to our farm land and water and farmers. All we have to do is look at Maine with all the farmers who can no longer sell their milk. Because the sludge that spread contained alot of PFA'S and other contaminents, industrial waste and pharmacuticals.…”
— Deborah Beaton, Lancasteropposes
“If this legislation were enacted, New Hampshire would face an immediate biosolids disposal crisis. Available disposal capacity within the state and across New England is already severely constrained.…”
— Peter Burnham, Holdernessopposes
“The first step is to find a suitable method to dispose of the sludge BEFORE you create a much larger and costly problem for the citizens of NH.”
— ALBERT J VANASSE, Hanoveropposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 10, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture6:11:16–6:20:299m 13slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 11, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and AgricultureWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamFull Committee Work Session
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and AgricultureWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamFull Committee Work Session
  • Feb 24, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and AgricultureWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamFull Committee Work Session
  • Mar 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture2:50:42–2:53:042m 22slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0925h — roll call; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor6:56:44–6:58:552m 11slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0925h and 2026-1079h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0925h — adopted, division 293-12; FLAM # 2026-1079h (Rep. N. Germana) — adopted, division 307-11
  • Apr 21, 2026Public hearingSenate Energy and Natural Resources59:34–1:02:393m 5slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floor5:40:30–5:42:482m 18slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1593s; Ought to Pass with Amendments #2026-1593s and #2026-1792s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1593s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1879s 2026-1792s and 2026-1593s and Requests CofC (Rep. J. Aron) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. J. Aron, Bixby, Comtois, Barbour
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floor26:43–29:272m 44slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Birdsell Moved to Reconsider the following action taken by this Body: Reconsider the Vote on Third Reading and Final Passage, Rescind Third Reading and Reconsider the Vote on Ought to Pass with Amendment — adopted, voice vote; Ought to Pass with Amendments #2026-1593s and #2026-1792s and #2026-1879s — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2026-1879s — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2066c; Conference Committee Report # 2026-2066c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report 2026-2066c: Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 1 P. 13
  2. Feb 10, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/10/2026 02:45 pm GP 153
  3. Feb 11, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/11/2026 10:00 am GP153
  4. Feb 17, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/17/2026 10:00 am GP 153
  5. Feb 24, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/24/2026 10:00 am GP 153
  6. Mar 3, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 03/03/2026 10:15 am GP 153
  7. Mar 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2026 10:15 am GP 153
  8. Mar 3, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0925h 03/03/2026 (Vote 12-1; RC) HC 10 P. 44
  9. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  10. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0925h: AA DV 293-12 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 162
  11. Mar 11, 2026HouseFLAM # 2026-1079h (Rep. N. Germana): AA DV 307-11 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 163
  12. Mar 11, 2026HouseFLAM # 2026-1118h (Rep. W. Thomas): AF DV 53-267 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 164
  13. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0925h and 2026-1079h: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 165
  14. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 7
  15. Apr 21, 2026SenHearing: 04/21/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:20 am; SC 15
  16. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1593s, 05/07/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 17
  17. May 7, 2026SenHB 1275 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  18. May 7, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1593s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  19. May 7, 2026SenSen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2026-1792s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  20. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendments #2026-1593s and #2026-1792s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  21. May 14, 2026SenSen. Birdsell Moved to Reconsider the following action taken by this Body: Reconsider the Vote on Third Reading and Final Passage, Rescind Third Reading and Reconsider the Vote on Ought to Pass with Amendment, MA VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  22. May 14, 2026SenSen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2026-1879s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  23. May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendments #2026-1593s and #2026-1792s and #2026-1879s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  24. May 14, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1879s 2026-1792s and 2026-1593s and Requests CofC (Rep. J. Aron): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 148
  25. May 14, 2026SenSen. Avard Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  26. May 14, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Avard, Birdsell, Altschiller; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  27. May 14, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. J. Aron, Bixby, Comtois, Barbour 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 148
  28. May 21, 2026HouseConferee Change: Rep. Layon Replaces Rep. Barbour 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 32
  29. May 21, 2026HouseConferee Change: Rep. N. Germana Replaces Rep. Bixby 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 32
  30. May 26, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 11:00 am GP 228
  31. May 26, 2026SenConferee Change; Senator Innis Replaces Senator Altschiller; SJ 14
  32. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2066c; 06/04/2026
  33. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report # 2026-2066c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  34. Jun 4, 2026HouseConference Committee Report 2026-2066c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  35. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
  36. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026
  37. Jul 10, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 298; eff. I. Sec 4 eff 9/8/2026 II. Rem eff 7/10/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

  • PFAS explainedPrimary source

    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — What the compounds are, where they come from, and how federal standards are set.AI-generated

  • NHDES PFAS response websiteState agency

    NH Department of Environmental Services — New Hampshire's own PFAS site: the ambient groundwater standards the bill's 500 ppt trigger sits against, and where contamination has been found.AI-generated

  • Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and your healthHealth agency

    ATSDR (CDC) — What is known and not known about exposure and health effects.AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.