Gov. Newsom Vetoes California AB 727 on PFAS in Cleaning Products, Floor Finishes

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed Assembly Bill 727 (Product safety: cleaning products and floor sealers or floor finishes: perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which was authored by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego). The bill would have prohibited, by 2026, the manufacture, distribution, or sale of cleaning products that contain intentionally added perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and in floor sealer or floor finish products by 2028. It would have made California the first state in the US to ban PFAS from household and institutional cleaners.

Newsom noted strong support the “author's intent,” but took issue with a lack of regulatory oversight as well as challenges to implementation in his veto.

Newsom said he would direct the state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control to engage with the author and the legislature and consider alternative approaches to regulating the use of “these harmful chemicals in consumer products.”

In his notification to the legislature, Newsome penned the following statement:

“This is one of three single-product chemical bans passed by the Legislature this year that attempt to address serious concerns with the presence of PFAS in consumer products. These bills do not identify or require any regulatory agency to determine compliance with, or enforce, the proposed statute.”

He continued: “While I strongly support the author's intent and have signed similar legislation in the past, I am concerned this bill falls short of providing enhanced protection to California consumers due to lack of regulatory oversight. Previously enacted single-product chemical bans, which also lack oversight, are proving challenging to implement, with inconsistent interpretations and confusion among manufacturers about how to comply with the restrictions.”

The bill landed on Gov. Newsom's desk last month, as reported by Happi.