States Win Big Against PFAS Manufacturers While Product Bans Expand

The $840 Million Question

In June 2025, the fight against "forever chemicals" reached a tipping point. While federal regulators dragged their feet, states took matters into their own hands—and started winning. Big.

New Jersey now has $840 million in corporate commitments for PFAS cleanup. Michigan secured a major settlement for contaminated communities. And in a South Carolina courtroom, scientists presented evidence that could reshape thousands of pending lawsuits.

The message is clear: PFAS manufacturers are being held accountable, and the era of unchecked contamination is ending.

Michigan's Settlement Wave Continues

On June 20, 2025, the 31st Circuit Court in St. Clair County entered an enforceable Consent Decree that marks another victory for Michigan's multi-year PFAS enforcement campaign.

Paper manufacturer Domtar Industries agreed to a $300,000 settlement to address PFAS contamination at the Techni-Comp, Inc. composting site near Port Huron. The agreement requires Domtar to:

• Remove compost piles containing PFAS-contaminated sludges
• Dispose of contaminated materials in a licensed landfill
• Investigate PFAS contamination in surface water sediments
• Pay $300,000 to Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for additional response activities
• Cover all state oversight and litigation costs

"This settlement ensures that Domtar—not Michigan taxpayers—pays for the cleanup," said Attorney General Dana Nessel when announcing the agreement on June 25, 2025.

The case is part of Michigan's PFAS Litigation Project, launched in 2020 through a partnership between the Attorney General's office and the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART). Four additional PFAS cases remain pending under the state's Special Assistant Attorney General contract.

New Jersey's Historic $450 Million Settlement with 3M

While Michigan celebrated its victory, New Jersey was finalizing something far larger: a $450 million settlement with 3M—the largest statewide PFAS settlement in the state's history.

Announced on May 13, 2025, the agreement resolves claims dating back to 2019 regarding contamination at 3M's Chambers Works and Parlin facilities. The payment structure spans 25 years:

• $43.45 million in year one for natural resource damages at Chambers Works
• $16.55 million for PFAS abatement projects
• $40 million for fees, costs, and punitive damages
• $275–325 million in payments from 2026–2034
• $125 million in additional payments from 2035–2050
• $50–100 million recognizing New Jersey's national leadership in PFAS abatement (2027–2029)

The settlement includes a public comment period that opened July 21, 2025, and runs through September 19, 2025. Once finalized, it releases 3M from liability for PFAS sale, marketing, and distribution in New Jersey—but does not affect private individual lawsuits against the company.

"This settlement demonstrates that polluters will pay for the damage they've done to our environment and public health," said Attorney General Matthew Platkin.

$840 Million and Counting

The 3M settlement builds on New Jersey's 2023 agreement with Solvay for $393 million—then the largest single-site PFAS settlement in U.S. history. Together, these corporate commitments give New Jersey $840 million for PFAS cleanup and environmental restoration.

New Jersey was the first state to set maximum contaminant levels for PFAS in drinking water, and its aggressive legal strategy is now paying dividends.

The Legislative Push: Three Bills That Could Change Everything

Money for cleanup is only half the battle. In June 2025, New Jersey's Assembly passed three groundbreaking bills that would ban PFAS in everyday products:

Firefighting Turnout Gear (S3946/A5195)

Passed 70-6, this bill requires all firefighting turnout gear to be PFAS-free by January 1, 2032. The ban also covers non-clothing apparatus including masks and communication technology. Firefighters—who have faced disproportionate PFAS exposure through aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) and protective gear—are one step closer to safer working conditions.

Menstrual Products (S3669/A4767)

Passed unanimously (78-0), this bill limits PFAS in menstrual products to 100 parts per million (0.01%). The restriction takes effect 25 months after signing. Given that menstrual products come into prolonged contact with sensitive tissue, this ban addresses a significant exposure pathway for people who menstruate.

Apparel (A5260)

Passed 55-19, this bill prohibits PFAS in clothing, with penalties of up to $10,000 for first offenses and $20,000 for second offenses. The ban excludes PPE and military-exclusive clothing.

All three bills await Senate action. If signed into law, New Jersey would become the most restrictive state in the nation for PFAS in consumer products—setting a precedent that others are already racing to follow.

The Science Day That Could Reshape 15,000 Lawsuits

While states secured settlements and passed legislation, a quieter but equally significant event unfolded in federal court. On June 20, 2025, Judge Richard M. Gergel presided over a pivotal "Science Day" in the AFFF multidistrict litigation (MDL 2873) in South Carolina.

Science Days—established by Case Management Order No. 33—allow plaintiffs and defendants to present expert testimony on scientific causation outside the formal record. The sessions help judges:

• Distinguish well-supported studies from "junk science"
• Define the scope of admissible expert testimony
• Determine which cases are suitable for bellwether trials
• Shape Daubert rulings that will govern all subsequent cases

The June 2025 session focused specifically on liver cancer and thyroid cancer causation—two of six conditions associated with PFAS exposure in the MDL (alongside kidney cancer, testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, and hypothyroidism).

Why This Matters

With over 15,200 personal injury cases pending as of January 2026, the Science Day's findings could determine the trajectory of thousands of claims. If the court accepts the scientific evidence linking PFAS to liver and thyroid cancer, plaintiffs in those categories will have a significantly stronger path to compensation.

The AFFF MDL focuses on firefighting foam exposure, but its scientific findings have broader implications. Evidence established in this MDL strengthens claims for all PFAS exposure pathways—including contaminated drinking water, food packaging, and consumer products.

The National Picture: 350+ Bills Across 39 States

New Jersey isn't alone. According to tracking data from 2025, over 350 PFAS-related bills have been introduced across 39 states. By mid-2025, 9 bills had been enacted in 5 states.

The focus areas are expanding:

• Drinking water maximum contaminant levels (MCLs)
• Food packaging bans
• Firefighting gear restrictions
• Consumer product prohibitions

With the Trump administration rolling back federal PFAS protections throughout 2025, states are filling the regulatory vacuum. The EPA's drinking water standards (NPDWR) remain technically in effect, but enforcement and compliance timelines face significant uncertainty.

What This Means for You

The litigation and legislative wave has direct implications for everyday consumers:

1. Check Your State's Progress
If you live in New Jersey, Michigan, or states with similar PFAS litigation, your tax dollars may finally be going toward cleanup rather than footing the bill for corporate polluters.

2. Firefighter Health
The 2032 PFAS-free gear deadline gives manufacturers time to develop alternatives, but firefighters should continue advocating for safer equipment in the interim.

3. Menstrual Products
New Jersey's 100 ppm limit could become a national standard. Look for PFAS-free certifications when purchasing period products.

4. Clothing Choices
Waterproof, stain-resistant, and wrinkle-free fabrics often contain PFAS. As apparel bans expand, expect more transparent labeling—or safer alternatives.

5. Water Testing
If you live near known contamination sites (former military bases, airports, paper mills, or manufacturing facilities), consider testing your drinking water for PFAS.

The Bottom Line

June 2025 marked a turning point in the PFAS accountability movement. States have proven that manufacturers can be forced to pay for cleanup. Courts are accepting scientific evidence linking PFAS to specific cancers. And legislatures are banning these chemicals from everyday products.

The $840 million New Jersey has secured from corporate polluters isn't just a number—it's a blueprint. Other states are watching, and many are already following suit.

For decades, PFAS manufacturers operated with impunity, contaminating water supplies and exposing millions to toxic "forever chemicals." That era is ending. The only question now is how quickly the rest of the country will catch up.

Sources

1. Michigan Attorney General. (2025, June 25). Attorney General Nessel Announces Settlement to Clean Up PFAS. https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2025/06/25/attorney-general-nessel-announces-settlement-to-clean-up-pfas

2. New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. (2025, May 13). AG Platkin and DEP Commissioner LaTourette Announce Historic Settlement of Up To $450 Million With 3M For Statewide PFAS Contamination. https://www.njoag.gov/ag-platkin-and-dep-commissioner-latourette-announce-historic-settlement-of-up-to-450-million-with-3m-for-statewide-pfas-contamination/

3. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. (2025, November 24). 3M Settlement Information. https://dep.nj.gov/3m/

4. Association of State Drinking Water Administrators. (2025, June 13). New Jersey Announces $450 Million Settlement With 3M Over PFAS Contamination. https://www.asdwa.org/2025/06/13/new-jersey-announces-450-million-settlement-with-3m-over-pfas-contamination/

5. Clean Water Action. (2025). New Jersey's 2025 PFAS Legislation. https://cleanwater.org/new-jerseys-2025-pfas-legislation

6. Keefe Law Firm. (2025). AFFF Settlement Progress: What's Happening in the Courts. https://keefe-lawfirm.com/blog/afff-settlement-progress-whats-happening-in-the-courts/

7. HeplerBroom Attorneys at Law. (2025, April 8). PFAS Litigation Part 2: Where, When, and Why. https://heplerbroom.com/blog/pfas-litigation-part-2-where-when-and-why/