Contact Name: Sara Persechino

Phone: (603) 271-3479

Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us

CONCORD - Today, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted to concur with the Senate recommendation of Ought to Pass as Amended on HB 1264 in a vote of 210-116. HB 1264 as amended is a bipartisan clean water bill addressing PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) contamination and drinking water safety as well as extending the Commission on the Seacoast Cancer Cluster Investigation. HB 1264 will next be enrolled with the Secretary of State’s office and then go to the governor’s desk, at which time he will have five days to act.

After the vote, Senator Tom Sherman (D-Rye), Senator David Watters (D-Dover), and Senator Shannon Chandley (D-Amherst) issued the following statements:

“Access to clean drinking water is not a Democrat or Republican issue, it is a New Hampshire issue. Our bipartisan work in the Senate brought together critical pieces of legislation that achieved four goals critical to the health of our state: setting maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFAS based on the latest toxicologic science from the NH Department of Environmental Services, providing relief to municipalities facing remediation projects, ensuring insurance coverage for PFAS blood testing, and extending the Commission on the Seacoast Cancer Cluster Investigation. I am honored to have sponsored components of this omnibus bill, and thank my House colleagues for their support in moving these measures forward,” said Senate Health and Human Services Chair Tom Sherman (D-Rye).

Senator David Watters (D-Dover) added, “All session, we have worked across the aisle to address the concerns we all share for the safety of our drinking water. This final omnibus bill, HB 1264, has been a bipartisan effort to put a stop to PFAS exposure, provide critical financial support for our municipalities, and make long term remediation efforts as a state that can prevent long term and costly effects on public health. As a state, we have indicated the importance of remediation efforts and I look forward to this legislation being signed into law.”

“It has been an honor to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate on this legislative package, particularly with the Merrimack Water Warriors, to advance drinking water safety legislation and protections for individuals suffering the long-term negative health effects of PFAS exposure,” added Senator Shannon Chandley (D-Amherst). “The House’s vote today is critical to moving this legislation forward and I hope Governor Sununu will sign it promptly upon receipt.”

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