S 2376Funding & Budget

Making an Appropriation of $15,200,000 to Be Used to Purchase PFAS-Free Firefighting Gear

Appropriates $15.2 million to Rhode Island cities and towns to purchase PFAS-free protective gear for professional and volunteer firefighters.

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Introduced Jan 30, 2026Committee Senate Finance

Plain-English Summary

This joint resolution authorizes the appropriation of $15.2 million from the state treasury for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to fund the purchase of PFAS-free protective gear for firefighters and rescue personnel across Rhode Island. The funds will be distributed to cities and towns to equip approximately 2,400 professional firefighters and 1,400 volunteer firefighters with safer equipment.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as 'forever chemicals,' are widely used in consumer products and current firefighting gear. Research indicates that long-term exposure to PFAS carries significant health and safety risks, which are exacerbated when these materials are exposed to high temperatures during firefighting operations.

By transitioning to recently developed PFAS-free protective gear, the state aims to dramatically reduce the occupational hazards faced by first responders. While not eliminating all exposure risks inherent to firefighting, this investment addresses a critical source of toxic chemical exposure for emergency personnel performing their daily duties.

For younger readers

Firefighters wear special gear to stay safe from fires, but their current suits contain harmful chemicals called PFAS. This bill gives $15.2 million to cities and towns so they can buy new, safer gear without these chemicals. This will help protect the health of the firefighters who risk their lives to keep us safe.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Professional firefightersVolunteer firefightersRescue personnelMunicipal governmentsTaxpayersFirefighting equipment manufacturers

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low

Estimated cost

$15,200,000

Estimated revenue

Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Protects the long-term health and safety of workers and first responders.
Reduces the overall use and demand for toxic PFAS 'forever chemicals'.
Provides state funding to municipalities, ensuring equitable protection for firefighters regardless of a town's local budget constraints.
$15.2 million is a significant expense that could be directed toward broader environmental cleanup efforts.
Does not address the root cause of PFAS pollution or hold chemical manufacturers financially accountable for the harm caused.
Does not explicitly mandate the safe disposal or phase-out of the old toxic gear.

For Conservatives

Directly supports first responders, emergency personnel, and public safety.
Represents a one-time capital expenditure rather than creating a new ongoing entitlement program.
Helps local municipalities cover essential public safety costs without forcing them to raise local property taxes.
Increases state spending by $15.2 million.
Could set a precedent for the state funding local municipal equipment purchases.
May lead to future unfunded mandates if towns are later required to maintain or replace this specific, potentially more expensive gear without ongoing state aid.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

WHEREAS, Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, are manmade chemicals found in a wide range of products, including, but not limited to, adult mattresses, air care products, clothing, cleaning products, cookware, cosmetics, and many, many more; and

WHEREAS, Increasingly, research shows that long-term exposure to products containing PFAS creates heightened and increased health and safety risks to persons who are so exposed; and

WHEREAS, By the nature of their work and the extent to which PFAS are found in more and more items commonly found in private households and businesses, firefighters and rescue personnel are particularly exposed to heightened amounts of PFAS in performing their duties as firefighters and rescue personnel; and

WHEREAS, A significant percentage of current, in-use firefighter and rescue personnel protective gear includes PFAS substances, and that exposure to PFAS substances is increased when the materials containing PFAS are exposed to high temperatures, which firefighters and rescue personnel face on daily basis; and

WHEREAS, There now exists recently-developed firefighter and rescue personnel protective gear which is PFAS free, and the use of which, while not completely eliminating the inherent possibility of exposure, would dramatically reduce the amount of exposure to PFAS substances which firefighters and rescue personnel face regularly; and

WHEREAS, That the sum of fifteen million, two hundred thousand dollars ($15,200,000) would enable the purchase of PFAS free personnel protective gear for approximately two thousand, four hundred (2,400) professional firefighters and one thousand, four hundred (1,400) volunteer firefighters, across the state; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of fifteen million, two hundred thousand dollars ($15,200,000) for those cities and towns in the State of Rhode Island to purchase firefighter and rescue personnel protective gear which is PFAS free; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $15,200,0 TO BE USED TO PURCHASE PFAS-FREE FIREFIGHTING GEAR *** This joint resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of fifteen million, two hundred thousand dollars ($15,2000,000) to cities and towns to purchase firefighter and rescue personnel protective gear which is PFAS free.