---
title: HB 909. Firefighter Health and Environmental Safety Act; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb909
cite_as: HB 909, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb909
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb909.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb909/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71992
date: 2026-01-12
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb909.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 909
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-04-02
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Karla Drenner
- Sandra Scott
- Viola Davis
- Kim Schofield
- Marvin Lim
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB909/2025
upstream_id: 2019405
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- firefighter health
- PFAS chemicals
- environmental regulation
- insurance coverage
- public safety
---
# HB 909. Firefighter Health and Environmental Safety Act; enact
## Text
House Bill 909
By: Representatives Drenner of the 85th, Scott of the 76th, Davis of the 87th, Schofield of the
63rd, and Lim of the 98th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Titles 12, 25, and 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
conservation and natural resources, fire protection and safety, and insurance, respectively,
so as to provide greater health protections for firefighters; to provide for monitoring of
concentration levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, at certain
firefighter related sites; to prohibit the use of firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an
intentionally added chemical after a certain date; to require manufacturers of firefighting
equipment to label such equipment as containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical
after a certain date; to provide for the development of standards for mitigating PFAS
contamination at harmful exposure levels and for the safe disposal or destruction of any
firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical; to create the
Firefighter Health Advisory Council and establish its powers; to provide for the
establishment and purpose of the Firefighter PFAS Initiative; to require fire departments to
provide and maintain insurance coverage for its firefighters for the payment of claims for
PFAS blood testing under certain circumstances; to require insurers to provide coverage for
PFAS blood testing under certain circumstances; to revise and provide definitions; to provide
for civil penalties; to provide for reporting; to provide for a short title; to provide for
legislative findings and intent; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and
for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Firefighter Health and Environmental
Safety Act."
SECTION 2.
(a) The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Firefighters face significant health risks due to occupational exposure to toxic
substances, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS; and
(2) Current federal and state health programs lack adequate provisions for addressing
occupational hazards unique to firefighting.
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to:
(1) Enhance firefighter health protections; and
(2) Ensure accountability and compliance with laws, rules, and regulations providing
health protections for firefighters through clear enforcement mechanisms.
SECTION 3.
Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conservation and natural
resources, is amended in Article 1 of Chapter 2, relating to the Department of Natural
Resources generally, by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"12-2-12.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Covered site' means any land within this state used as a fire department or as a
training site for firefighting operations.
(2) 'Division' means the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural
Resources.
(3) 'Fire department' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-3-21.
(4) 'Harmful exposure level' means, which respect to the human population, including
sensitive subgroups, a concentration level of PFAS that, over a lifetime or part of a
lifetime, may cause a change in body function, including, but not limited to, organ
function or cell structure, that might lead to disease or health problems, as determined by
the division after considering any regulations or guidance issued by the United Sates
Environmental Protection Agency, as of July 31, 2027.
(5) 'Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances' or 'PFAS' shall have the same
meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-2-41.
(b) Subject to available funding, beginning on January 1, 2027, the division shall
participate in or conduct such studies, reviews, investigations, research, emission
inventories, and demonstrations as it deems necessary to monitor levels of PFAS
contamination in air, water, and soil at covered sites; provided, however, that, for any
privately held land, the division shall receive permission to conduct such monitoring
activities from the owner. The division shall provide a written analysis of the results of
such monitoring for each covered site not less frequently than quarterly to the Firefighter
Health Advisory Council, established pursuant to Code Section 25-2-42.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2028, the division shall adopt rules and regulations
establishing decontamination protocols for fire departments relating to mitigating PFAS
contamination at a harmful exposure level. In adopting such rules and regulations, the
division shall take into consideration any regulations or guidance issued by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency, as of July 31, 2027."
SECTION 4.
Title 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fire protection and safety, is
amended by revising Code Section 25-2-41, relating to use of class B fire-fighting foam
containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals, as follows:
"25-2-41.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Class B fire-fighting firefighting foam' means any foam designed to extinguish
flammable liquid fires.
(2) 'Division' means the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural
Resources.
(3) 'Fire department' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-3-21.
(4) 'Firefighter' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2.
(5) 'Firefighting equipment' means any materials used by firefighters to extinguish fires,
including, but not limited to, class B firefighting foam; jackets, pants, gloves, boots,
helmets, face masks, and other personal protective equipment used by firefighters; and
any other materials used by firefighters in firefighting.
(6) 'Intentionally added chemical' means a chemical in a product that serves an intended
function or technical effect in the product or product component, including the PFAS
within intentionally added chemicals and PFAS that are intentional breakdown products
of an added chemical that also have a functional or technical effect in the product or
product component.
(7) 'Manufacturer' means:
(A) Any entity which manufactures, makes, produces, or causes to be produced
firefighting equipment sold in this state or firefighting equipment that such entity
intends to be sold in this state;
(B) The first purchaser of firefighting equipment manufactured anywhere that intends
to resell such firefighting equipment in this state regardless of whether the original
manufacturer, maker, or producer intends such firefighting equipment to be sold in the
United States; or
(C) Any entity which becomes a successor of an entity described in subparagraph (A)
or (B) of this paragraph.
(2)(8) 'Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances' or 'PFAS' 'PFAS chemicals' means
a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon
atom, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and designed to be fully
functional in class B fire-fighting foam formulations.
(9) 'Person' means any individual, partnership, association, firm, public or private
corporation, or public entity.
(10) 'Public entity' means a department, agency, board, bureau, commission, authority,
or instrumentality of the State of Georgia, any local government or authority, including
a county, municipal, or consolidated government in this state, or any other political
subdivision in this state. Such term includes a fire department or local school system.
(3)(11) 'Testing' means calibration testing, conformance testing, or fixed system testing.
(b) Until June 30, 2030, no person On and after January 1, 2020, no person; fire
department provided for under Chapter 3 of this title; state department, agency, board,
bureau, office, commission, public corporation, or authority; county, municipal
corporation, school district, or other political subdivision of this state shall discharge or
otherwise use class B fire-fighting firefighting foam that contains intentionally added PFAS
chemicals PFAS as an intentionally added chemical unless:
(1) Such discharge or other use occurs in fire prevention or in response to an emergency
fire-fighting firefighting operation; or
(2) Such discharge or other use is for training or testing purposes which occurs at a
facility that has implemented containment, treatment, and disposal measures to prevent
uncontrolled releases of such class B fire-fighting firefighting foam into the environment.
(c) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to:
(1) Restrict the manufacture, sale, or distribution of class B fire-fighting foam that
contains intentionally added PFAS chemicals or restrict the discharge or other use of
class B fire-fighting foam in response to an emergency fire-fighting operation; or
(2) Prevent the use of nonfluorinated foams, including other class B fire-fighting foams,
for purposes of training for fire-fighting operations.
(c) Beginning on July 1, 2030, no person shall discharge, use, or cause to be used any
firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical.
(d) Beginning on July 1, 2030, no person or manufacturer shall distribute, sell, or offer for
sale in this state any newly manufactured firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an
intentionally added chemical unless it is accompanied by a legible and easily discernable
disclosure with the statement 'Made with PFAS Chemicals,' including for online listings
of products for sale.
(e) No later than January 1, 2028, the division shall adopt rules and regulations
establishing standards for any fire department operating in this state to safely destroy
firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical. In adopting
such rules and regulations, the division shall take into consideration any regulations or
guidance issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, as of July 31,
2027.
(f) Beginning on July 1, 2028, no person shall destroy or dispose of firefighting equipment
containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical except as provided by any rules and
regulations adopted by the division.
(g)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, any person that violates
subsection (c) of this Code section shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed
$10,000.00 for each day that the violation persists, after such person is notified of the
Commissioner's intent to impose a penalty and of the right to a hearing with respect to
the same. The amount of any such penalty shall be fixed by the Commissioner.
(2)(A) No person shall be held in violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection if such
person relied in good faith upon representations of a manufacturer that firefighting
equipment did not contain PFAS as an intentionally added chemical.
(B) No individual firefighter shall be personally liable for payment of any civil penalty
imposed under this subsection.
(h) Any person or manufacturer that violates subsection (d) of this Code section shall be
subject to a civil penalty of $100.00 per violation, after such person or manufacturer is
notified of the Commissioner's intent to impose a penalty and of the right to a hearing with
respect to the same. For the purposes of this subsection, each article of newly
manufactured firefighting equipment that is distributed, sold, or offered for sale in this state
in violation of subsection (d) shall constitute a separate violation.
(i) Any person that violates subsection (f) of this Code section shall be subject to a civil
penalty, not to exceed $10,000.00 per violation, after such person is notified of the
Commissioner's intent to impose a penalty and of the right to a hearing with respect to the
same. The amount of any such penalty shall be fixed by the Commissioner."
SECTION 5.
Said title is further amended by adding new Code sections to read as follows:
"25-2-42.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Council' means the Firefighter Health Advisory Council established pursuant to this
Code section.
(2) 'Firefighter' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2.
(3) 'PFAS' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-2-41.
(b) There is established within the office of the Commissioner the Firefighter Health
Advisory Council. The objective of the council shall be to monitor current and future
health risks impacting firefighters in this state and to provide recommendations on
solutions to mitigate such health risks, with a focus on the effects of exposure to PFAS.
All affected state agencies shall cooperate with the council in its efforts to meet such
objective. This subsection shall not be construed to authorize the council to perform any
function currently performed by an affected state agency.
(c) The council shall be composed of 12 members as follows:
(1) The Commissioner or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chairperson;
(2) The commissioner of public heath or his or her designee;
(3) The commissioner of natural resources or his or her designee;
(4) The director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency
or his or her designee;
(5) One representative from the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs, appointed by the
Governor;
(6) One representative from the Georgia State Firefighters Association, appointed by the
Lieutenant Governor;
(7) One representative from a state-wide labor organization representing firefighters,
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(8) One representative from a medical or research institution experienced in occupational
health, appointed by the Governor;
(9) One representative from the insurance industry experienced in firefighter related
claims, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;
(10) One firefighter with at least ten years of experience as a full-time firefighter,
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(11) One firefighter with at least ten years of experience as a volunteer firefighter,
appointed by the Governor; and
(12) One representative from the general public with a proven interest in firefighter
health and safety, appointed by the Governor.
(d) On or before October 1, 2025:
(1) The Governor shall appoint the first members of the council pursuant to
paragraphs (5), (8), (11), and (12) of subsection (c) of this Code section;
(2) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint the first members of the council pursuant to
paragraphs (6) and (9) of subsection (c) of this Code section; and
(3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint the first members of the
council pursuant to paragraphs (7) and (10) of subsection (c) of this Code section.
(e) All members of the council appointed by the Governor shall serve terms of four years,
and all members of the council appointed by the Lieutenant Governor or the Speaker of the
House of Representatives shall serve terms of two years. All appointed members shall
serve until the appointment of his or her successor. Successors to appointed members shall
be appointed in the same manner as original appointments. Vacancies shall be filled in the
same manner as the original appointments. Each appointed member shall be eligible to
succeed himself or herself; provided, however, that no member shall serve more than four
consecutive terms on the council.
(f) Each member of the council shall be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the
State of Georgia.
(g) Subject to available funding, the council shall:
(1) Develop a health program focused on monitoring and reducing the harmful health
effects of exposure to PFAS with respect to firefighters, to be called the Firefighter PFAS
Initiative. The purposes and duties of such program shall be to:
(A) Aggregate and maintain data related to PFAS contamination levels at covered sites
collected pursuant to Code Section 12-2-12;
(B) Aggregate and maintain PFAS related health data on firefighters collected pursuant
to Code Section 25-2-43;
(C) Synthesize existing studies, reports, and data related to PFAS with any data
collected pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph to identify and track
health condition incidence and health trends among firefighters;
(D) Collaborate with other health related state entities, including, but not limited to, the
Department of Public Health, the Department of Community Health, and the
Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources, to support
and integrate with existing initiatives and programs related to monitoring and mitigating
the harmful effects of PFAS; and
(E) Provide annual public forums to present key findings of the Firefighter PFAS
Initiative and gather community feedback;
(2) Identify any significant health risks, other than PFAS exposure, affecting firefighters
in this state and develop innovative recommendations for addressing such health risks;
and
(3) On or before December 1 of each year, file a report to the Governor and the General
Assembly, including a summary of the council's key findings and recommendations, if
any, for legislative changes with respect to reducing significant health risks affecting
firefighters.
(h) The council shall convene at least quarterly or at such other frequency as determined
by the chairperson.
(i) The council shall be empowered to use subcommittees as it deems necessary to carry
out its duties and responsibilities. Members of such subcommittees shall be knowledgeable
of the subject matter with which the subcommittee is concerned and shall be appointed by
the chairperson of the council upon the recommendation of the council.
(j) Members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall receive the same
expense allowance as that received by members of the General Assembly and the same
mileage allowance for the use of a personal car or a travel allowance of actual
transportation cost if traveling by public carrier as that received by all other state officials
and employees. The funds for such expenses and allowances shall be paid from funds
appropriated or available to the council.
(k) The council is authorized to accept donations, gifts, property, and other contributions
and to use the same for the purposes of carrying out this Code section.
25-2-43.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Laboratory' means any institution that conducts PFAS blood testing.
(2) 'PFAS blood testing' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code
Section 25-3-23.
(b) Firefighter participation in the Firefighter PFAS Initiative, established pursuant to
paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of Code Section 25-2-42, shall be voluntary. Any
laboratory conducting PFAS blood testing on a firefighter shall obtain written informed
consent from such firefighter prior to sharing the health information set forth in
subsection (c) of this Code section.
(c) Subject to subsection (b) of this Code section, each laboratory in this state shall report
biannually to the Firefighter Health Advisory Council within the office of the
Commissioner concerning PFAS health metrics established by such council as reasonably
necessary to implement the Firefighter PFAS Initiative.
(d) Each laboratory in this state shall forward data collected from PFAS blood testing to
the Firefighter Health Advisory Council in a form and manner to be determined by the
Firefighter Health Advisory Council, provided that any data forwarded shall be aggregated
and shall not contain any identifying or confidential information with regard to any
individual firefighter.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Code section, PFAS blood testing and
reporting by any laboratory shall be conducted in a manner that ensures the privacy of the
firefighter during the testing process and consistency with state and federal laws applicable
to the confidentiality of health records."
SECTION 6.
Said title is further amended by revising subsection (b) of Code Section 25-3-23, relating to
general requirements, equipment and clothing, and insurance, as follows:
"(b)(1) A legally organized fire department shall provide and maintain sufficient insurance
coverage on each member of the fire department to pay claims for injuries sustained en
route to, during, and returning from fire calls or other emergencies and disasters and
scheduled training sessions.
(2)(A) As used in this paragraph, the term:
(i) 'Cancer' means bladder, blood, brain, breast, cervical, esophageal, intestinal,
kidney, lymphatic, lung, prostate, rectal, respiratory tract, skin, testicular, and thyroid
cancer; leukemia; multiple myeloma; or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
(ii) 'Certified' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 31-22-1.
(iii) 'Clinical laboratory' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code
Section 31-22-1.
(ii)(iv) 'Firefighter' means a firefighter as defined shall have the same meaning as set
forth in Code Section 25-4-2.
(v) 'PFAS blood testing' means a measurement of the amount of perfluoroalkyl and
polyfluoroalkyl substances in blood performed by a certified clinical laboratory and
includes a physician's interpretation of the results.
(iii)(vi) 'Volunteer' means a volunteer as defined shall have the same meaning as set
forth in Code Section 25-4-2.
(B) On and after January 1, 2018, a legally organized fire department shall provide and
maintain sufficient insurance coverage on each member of the fire department who is
a firefighter to pay claims for cancer diagnosed after having served 12 consecutive
months as a firefighter in this state. Such insurance benefits shall include at minimum
the following:
(i)(I) A lump sum benefit of $25,000.00 subject to limitations specified in the
insurance contract and based on severity of cancer and payable to such firefighter
upon submission to the insurance carrier or other payor of acceptable proof of
diagnosis by a physician who is board certified in the medical specialty appropriate
for the type of cancer involved that there are one or more malignant tumors
characterized by the uncontrollable and abnormal growth and spread of malignant
cells with invasion of normal tissue and that:
(a) Surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy is medically necessary;
(b) There is metastasis; or
(c) The firefighter has terminal cancer, is expected to die within 24 months or less
from the date of diagnosis, and will not benefit from, or has exhausted, curative
therapy; or
(II) A lump sum benefit of $6,250.00 subject to limitations specified in the
insurance contract and based on severity of cancer and payable to such firefighter
upon submission to the insurance carrier or other payor of acceptable proof of
diagnosis by a physician who is board certified in the medical specialty appropriate
for the type of cancer involved that:
(a) There is carcinoma in situ such that surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy
has been determined to be medically necessary;
(b) There are malignant tumors which are treated by endoscopic procedures
alone;
(c) There are malignant melanomas; or
(d) There is a tumor of the prostate, provided that it is treated with radical
prostatectomy or external beam therapy; and
(ii) Payable as a result of a specific injury or illness to begin six months after
disability and submission to the insurance carrier or other payor of acceptable proof
of disability precluding service as a firefighter and continuing for up to 36
consecutive monthly payments:
(I) A monthly benefit equal to 60 percent of the member's monthly salary as an
employed firefighter with the fire department or a monthly benefit of $5,000.00,
whichever is less; or
(II) If the member is a volunteer, a monthly benefit of $1,500.00.
The benefit under subdivision (I) or (II) of this division, as applicable, shall be
subordinate to any other benefit actually paid to the firefighter for such disability from
any other source, not including insurance purchased solely by the firefighter, and shall
be limited to the difference between the amount of such other paid benefit and the
amount specified under subdivision (I) or (II) of this division, as applicable.
(C) The combined total of all benefits received by any firefighter under
subdivisions (B)(i)(I) and (B)(i)(II) of this paragraph during his or her lifetime shall not
exceed $50,000.00.
(D) Beginning on July 1, 2026, a legally organized fire department shall provide and
maintain sufficient insurance coverage for each member of the fire department who is
a firefighter to pay claims for PFAS blood testing after having served 12 consecutive
months as a firefighter in this state.
(D)(E) With the exception of the benefit under subdivision (B)(ii)(I) of this paragraph,
any person who was simultaneously a member of more than one fire department at the
time of diagnosis shall not be entitled to receive benefits under this paragraph from or
on behalf of more than one of such fire departments. In the event a volunteer of one
fire department is simultaneously employed by another fire department, the fire
department for which such person is a volunteer shall not be required to maintain the
coverage on such volunteer otherwise required under this subsection during the period
of such employment. Any member who receives benefits under division (ii) of
subparagraph (B) of this paragraph may be required to have his or her condition
reevaluated; in the event any such reevaluation reveals that such person has regained
the ability to perform duties as a firefighter, then his or her benefits under division (ii)
of subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall cease. Benefits under said division shall
also cease upon the death of such person. A member who, after at least one year as a
firefighter with any legally organized fire department, departs from employment, ceases
to be an active volunteer, or retires shall be entitled to continue his or her coverages
under this paragraph through a continuation or conversion to individual coverage. The
departing member shall be responsible for payment of all premiums.
(E)(F) In addition to any other purpose authorized under Chapter 8 of Title 33, county
governing authorities and municipal governing authorities may use proceeds from
county and municipal taxes imposed under said chapter for purposes of providing
insurance pursuant to this paragraph.
(F)(G) Funds received as premiums for the coverages specified in this paragraph shall
not be subject to premium taxes under Chapter 8 of Title 33.
(G)(H) The computation of premium amounts by an insurer for the coverages under
this paragraph shall be subject to generally accepted adjustments from insurance
underwriting."
SECTION 7.
Said title is further amended in Chapter 7, relating to the Georgia Fire Academy, by revising
paragraph (2) of Code Section 25-7-2, relating to creation and purpose of the academy, as
follows:
"(2) To provide professional training to paid, volunteer, and other publicly or privately
employed firefighters at a minimal cost to them and their employers, including, but not
limited to, annual training related to PFAS exposure risks and mitigation;"
SECTION 8.
Said title is further by revising Code Section 25-7-3, relating to "board" defined, as follows:
"25-7-3.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) 'Board' 'board' means the Board of Public Safety.
(2) 'Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances' or 'PFAS' shall have the same
meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-2-41."
SECTION 9.
Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, is amended by
adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"33-29-3.5.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Firefighter' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2.
(2) 'PFAS blood testing' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code
Section 25-3-23.
(3) 'Policy' means any benefit plan, contract, or policy except a disability income policy,
specified disease policy, or hospital indemnity policy.
(b) Policies subject to this Code section shall contain coverage for PFAS blood testing
performed with at least the following frequency:
(1) Once as a baseline for any firefighter who has served at least 12 consecutive months
but fewer than 24 consecutive months as a firefighter in this state; or
(2) Once every year for any firefighter who has served at least 24 consecutive months
as a firefighter in this state.
(c) Each insurer authorized to issue an individual accident and sickness insurance policy
in this state which includes coverage for any firefighter shall include as part of or as a
required endorsement to each such policy which is issued, delivered, issued for delivery,
or renewed coverage for PFAS blood testing for the covered firefighters who meet the
minimum requirements of this Code section.
(d) The coverage required under subsection (c) of this Code section may be subject to such
exclusions, reductions, or other limitations as to coverages, deductibles, or coinsurance
provisions as may be approved by the Commissioner.
(e) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit the issuance of individual
accident and sickness insurance policies which provide benefits greater than those required
by subsection (c) of this Code section or more favorable to the insured than those required
by subsection (c) of this Code section.
(f) The provisions of this Code section shall apply to individual accident and sickness
insurance policies issued by a fraternal benefit society, a healthcare plan, a health
maintenance organization, or any similar entity.
(g) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be deemed to prohibit the payment of
different levels of benefits or from having differences in coinsurance percentages
applicable to benefit levels for services provided by preferred and nonpreferred providers
as otherwise authorized under the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 30 of this title, relating
to preferred provider arrangements."
SECTION 10.
Said title is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"33-30-4.6.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Firefighter' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2.
(2) 'PFAS blood testing' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code
Section 25-3-23.
(3) 'Policy' means any benefit plan, contract, or policy except a disability income policy,
specified disease policy, or hospital indemnity policy.
(b) Policies subject to this Code section shall contain coverage for PFAS blood testing
performed with at least the following frequency:
(1) Once as a baseline for any firefighter who has served at least 12 consecutive months
but fewer than 24 consecutive months as a firefighter in this state; or
(2) Once every year for any firefighter who has served at least 24 consecutive months
as a firefighter in this state.
(c) Each insurer authorized to issue a group accident and sickness insurance policy in this
state which includes coverage for any firefighter shall include as part of or as a required
endorsement to each such policy which is issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed
coverage for PFAS blood testing for the covered firefighters who meet the minimum
requirements of this Code section.
(d) The coverage required under subsection (c) of this Code section may be subject to such
exclusions, reductions, or other limitations as to coverages, deductibles, or coinsurance
provisions as may be approved by the Commissioner.
(e) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit the issuance of group
accident and sickness insurance policies which provide benefits greater than those required
by subsection (c) of this Code section or more favorable to the insured than those required
by subsection (c) of this Code section.
(f) The provisions of this Code section shall apply to group accident and sickness
insurance policies issued by a fraternal benefit society, a healthcare plan, a health
maintenance organization, or any similar entity.
(g) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be deemed to prohibit the payment of
different levels of benefits or from having differences in coinsurance percentages
applicable to benefit levels for services provided by preferred and nonpreferred providers
as otherwise authorized under the provisions of Article 2 of this chapter, relating to
preferred provider arrangements."
SECTION 11.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would phase out PFAS 'forever chemicals' in firefighting foam and gear, create a state council to track firefighter health, and require insurance coverage for PFAS blood testing.
### Plain-language summary
Firefighters are regularly exposed to PFAS, a class of long-lasting synthetic chemicals linked to health risks, through firefighting foam and protective gear. This bill sets up a multi-year phase-out of PFAS in firefighting equipment, requires monitoring of PFAS contamination at fire departments and training sites, and creates a Firefighter Health Advisory Council to study health risks and run a new Firefighter PFAS Initiative.
Starting July 1, 2030, use of firefighting equipment containing intentionally added PFAS would be banned, with civil penalties up to $10,000 per day for violations. Manufacturers would have to label PFAS-containing gear starting the same date. The Environmental Protection Division would set decontamination and safe-disposal rules by 2028. Fire departments would have to provide insurance covering PFAS blood testing for firefighters starting July 1, 2026, and both individual and group health insurers would have to cover periodic PFAS blood testing for firefighters statewide.
### What it does
- Bans discharge or use of firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical beginning July 1, 2030, with civil penalties up to $10,000 per day.
- Requires manufacturers to label newly made firefighting equipment containing PFAS starting July 1, 2030, with a $100 per-item penalty for noncompliance.
- Directs the Environmental Protection Division to monitor PFAS levels at fire departments and training sites and adopt decontamination and safe-disposal rules by 2028.
- Creates the 12-member Firefighter Health Advisory Council to study firefighter health risks and run the Firefighter PFAS Initiative, a data-tracking and research program.
- Requires fire departments to carry insurance covering PFAS blood testing for firefighters starting July 1, 2026, after 12 months of service.
- Requires individual and group health insurance policies covering firefighters to include PFAS blood testing at set intervals.
### Who it affects
Career and volunteer firefighters and fire departments statewide, manufacturers and sellers of firefighting foam and protective gear, health and accident insurers, the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources, and state agencies including the Department of Public Health and the Georgia Fire Academy.
### Why it matters
Firefighters would gain new tracking of PFAS exposure at their workplaces, guaranteed blood testing coverage, and an eventual end to PFAS in the foam and gear they use daily, while manufacturers and fire departments face new compliance costs, labeling duties, and potential penalties for violations.
### Key provisions
- Section 3 adds O.C.G.A. § 12-2-12, requiring the Environmental Protection Division to monitor PFAS levels at fire department and training sites starting January 1, 2027, and set decontamination rules by January 1, 2028.
- Section 4 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 25-2-41 to ban PFAS-containing firefighting foam and equipment use by July 1, 2030, require PFAS labeling on new equipment, and set civil penalties (up to $10,000 per day for illegal use, $100 per item for labeling violations).
- Section 5 creates O.C.G.A. §§ 25-2-42 and 25-2-43, establishing the 12-member Firefighter Health Advisory Council and the Firefighter PFAS Initiative to collect health and contamination data and report annually to the Governor and General Assembly.
- Section 6 amends O.C.G.A. § 25-3-23 to require fire departments to insure firefighters for PFAS blood testing claims starting July 1, 2026, after 12 consecutive months of service.
- Section 7 adds PFAS exposure training to the Georgia Fire Academy's required professional training curriculum.
- Sections 9 and 10 add O.C.G.A. §§ 33-29-3.5 and 33-30-4.6, requiring individual and group accident and sickness insurance policies covering firefighters to include PFAS blood testing coverage at set intervals.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-04-02)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-01-12)
- Sponsors: Karla Drenner, Sandra Scott, Viola Davis, Kim Schofield, Marvin Lim
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71992
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb909.md?full=1