PFAS State Legislation 2026: Nearly 100 New Bills Across 17 States

The 2026 Legislative Wave

The pace of state-level PFAS legislation is accelerating. According to a March 20, 2026 analysis from MultiState, nearly 100 new PFAS-related bills have been introduced across 17 states so far in 2026, building on approximately 280 bills that carried over from 2025. For food businesses navigating packaging compliance, this legislative momentum signals that the regulatory landscape will continue to expand.

This is not legal advice — always consult qualified counsel for guidance specific to your situation. Below is a summary of what food businesses should be watching.

Key Developments for Food Packaging

While many of the nearly 100 new bills address PFAS in water, consumer products, and industrial settings, several directly target food packaging. The most significant food-packaging-related developments include:

• Kansas (HB 2674) — A bill that would prohibit the sale of cookware, food packaging, and dental floss containing intentionally added PFAS. If enacted, it would take effect in 2027, adding Kansas to the growing list of states with food packaging restrictions.
• Illinois — Illinois has enacted a broad ban on PFAS in cookware, cosmetics, children’s products, personal care items, intimate apparel, and food packaging, with provisions taking effect in 2026. Food businesses operating in Illinois should verify their packaging compliance status.
• Maine (May 25, 2026 deadline) — Maine’s rule prohibiting PFAS in nine types of plant-fiber food packaging takes effect May 25, 2026. This is one of the nearest upcoming deadlines for food businesses. See our Maine PFAS regulation guide for details.

The Trend: Acceleration, Not Slowdown

The volume of legislative activity tells the story. In 2025, approximately 280 PFAS-related bills were introduced across state legislatures. In the first three months of 2026 alone, nearly 100 more have been added. This trajectory suggests that by mid-year, 2026 could match or exceed 2025’s total bill count.

Several factors are driving this acceleration:

• Growing public awareness of PFAS health risks, fueled by ongoing media coverage and regulatory attention at the federal level.
• Momentum from early-adopter states — as states like New York, California, and Washington demonstrate that PFAS food packaging bans are enforceable and that alternatives exist, other states face less resistance to passing similar laws.
• EU regulatory pressure — the European Union’s PPWR ban on PFAS in food-contact packaging takes effect August 12, 2026, creating global supply chain pressure that makes US state action easier to justify.
• Industry readiness — the availability of PFAS-free packaging alternatives has expanded significantly, undermining the argument that bans are premature or impractical.

The EU August 2026 Deadline

Alongside the US state-level activity, the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) introduces strict PFAS limits for all food-contact packaging effective August 12, 2026. The three-tier threshold system sets limits at 25 ppb for individual PFAS compounds, 250 ppb for the sum of targeted PFAS, and 50 ppm for total PFAS including polymeric forms.

For US food businesses that export to Europe or source packaging from European suppliers, this deadline creates additional compliance obligations. For a detailed breakdown of the EU requirements, see our EU PPWR guide.

What Food Businesses Should Do Now

With legislative activity at this level, food businesses — particularly those operating in multiple states — should be preparing proactively rather than reacting to individual state deadlines. Here are practical steps to consider:

1. Audit your current packaging — Know what materials you use, where they come from, and whether your suppliers can certify PFAS-free status. Our guide to checking your packaging for PFAS walks through the process.
2. Check your states — Use the free compliance checker to see which regulations currently apply to your locations, and which are coming soon.
3. Get supplier documentation — Request Certificates of Analysis (COAs) and compliance statements from your packaging suppliers. Our supplier documentation template provides ready-to-use language.
4. Watch the calendar — Key upcoming deadlines include Maine (May 25, 2026) and the EU PPWR (August 12, 2026). See the full 2026 compliance calendar for all dates.

Looking Ahead

The 2026 legislative session is far from over. With nearly 100 new bills already introduced and hundreds more carried over from 2025, additional states are likely to enact food packaging restrictions before year-end. For food businesses, the cost of early compliance is modest compared to the risk of being caught flat-footed as new laws take effect.

We will continue to track this legislation and update the complete PFAS food packaging bans guide as new laws are enacted. For a broader view of upcoming deadlines, the 2026 compliance calendar consolidates every key date in one place.