Rep. Rob Kreibich

Two bills designed to address PFAS contamination across Wisconsin were signed into law earlier this month. AB 130 and AB 131, now Act 200 and Act 201 respectively, will protect innocent landowners who test for PFAS on their property and ensure communities receive additional resources to fight contamination.

PFAS are a group of manmade chemicals that are used in consumer products, commonly in non-stick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics. PFAS compounds—oftentimes called “forever chemicals” because they break down very slowly, it at all—seep into water supplies and cause serious health problems for humans and wildlife.

Act 200 and Act 201 unlock approximately $133 million from the PFAS Trust Fund to help Wisconsinites identify and remediate PFAS, including $80 million to a brand-new community grant program to assist impacted communities with testing, cleanup, disposal and restoration, and $35 million to expand the Well Compensation Grant Program to include PFAS.

The acts amend the Spills Law to ensure farmers, landowners, fire departments, and other businesses are not held responsible for PFAS contamination they find on their property that they did not cause. Innocent landowners should not be stuck with the financial and medical consequences of PFAS-related contamination spread onto their property at no fault of their own.

These acts expand testing availability across the state and create new research projects to help Wisconsin plan for the future.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to join my mailing list, please feel free to reach out to me at 608-237-9128 or at Rep.Kreibich@legis.wisconsin.gov.

Rep. Rob Kreibich represents Wisconsin’s 28th Assembly District, consisting of parts of St. Croix, Pierce and Dunn counties.