HB2409 amends the Illinois PFAS Reduction Act to address the sale and use of firefighting personal protective clothing and auxiliary firefighting equipment that contain intentionally added PFAS chemicals. The bill is named the Deputy Chief Pete Bendinelli PFAS PPE Act and focuses on disclosure, recordkeeping, and eventual phase-out of PFAS in firefighter gear.
Beginning January 1, 2026, sellers of firefighting personal protective clothing containing PFAS must provide written notice to purchasers stating that the product contains PFAS and explaining why PFAS was added. Both the seller and purchaser must keep the notice for at least three years, and the seller must provide the notice and related sales documentation to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency upon request. Beginning January 1, 2027, the bill prohibits knowingly manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, distributing for sale, or distributing for use in Illinois any firefighting personal protective clothing containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals. Beginning January 1, 2030, the same prohibition extends to auxiliary firefighting personal protective equipment containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals.
The bill affects the PFAS Reduction Act, expanding it with new definitions for firefighting gear, auxiliary equipment, and related sales terms, and creating a new compliance and enforcement framework tied to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. It directly impacts manufacturers, importers, distributors, and sellers of firefighter PPE, as well as local governments, fire departments, and State agencies that purchase such equipment.
The overall sentiment around the bill appears strongly favorable and noncontroversial. It passed the Illinois House 114-0 and the Senate 57-0, indicating unanimous support in both chambers. No committee transcript or recorded debate is provided, suggesting little visible opposition in the available record.
The main policy issue is the balance between firefighter safety, product performance, and PFAS exposure concerns. The only likely point of contention would be the practical and cost implications for manufacturers and fire departments as they transition away from PFAS-containing gear, but no recorded opposition appears in the voting history provided.
HB2409 expands the PFAS Reduction Act by adding new statutory definitions and a new section governing firefighting personal protective clothing and auxiliary firefighting equipment. It creates a notice requirement starting in 2026, a ban on intentionally added PFAS in firefighting personal protective clothing starting in 2027, and a later ban for auxiliary firefighting equipment starting in 2030. The bill also gives the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency access to retained notices and sales documentation for compliance purposes, affecting manufacturers, importers, distributors, sellers, local governments, fire departments, and State agencies that buy firefighting PPE.
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little visible controversy. It passed the House unanimously 114-0 and the Senate unanimously 57-0. With no committee transcript available and no recorded dissent in the voting history, the available evidence suggests the measure was viewed favorably as a firefighter safety and PFAS reduction bill.
No explicit opposition is shown in the available record, but the bill’s likely policy tension is between reducing PFAS exposure and maintaining the performance, availability, and cost of firefighter protective equipment. The phased deadlines suggest an effort to give manufacturers and purchasers time to adapt, which may reflect concern about supply-chain and procurement impacts. Any contention would most likely come from equipment manufacturers, distributors, or fire service purchasers facing transition costs, though none is documented in the provided materials.