Read the full stored bill text
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8933
I N S E N A T E
January 16, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances
in photovoltaic modules
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a
2 new section 37-0123 to read as follows:
3 § 37-0123. PROHIBITION AGAINST THE USE OF PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUORO-
4 ALKYL SUBSTANCES IN PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES.
5 1. ON AND AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SEVEN, NO PERSON
6 SHALL SELL, OFFER FOR SALE OR MANUFACTURE IN THIS STATE ANY PHOTOVOLTAIC
7 MODULE CONTAINING PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AS
8 INTENTIONALLY ADDED CHEMICALS.
9 2. THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT ANY RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY FOR
10 THE PURPOSE OF IMPLEMENTING, ADMINISTERING AND ENFORCING THIS SECTION.
11 3. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE
12 FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
13 (A) "PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES" OR "PFAS" SHALL
14 HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS IN SECTION 27-3301 OF THIS CHAPTER;
15 (B) "PERSON" MEANS ANY INDIVIDUAL, BUSINESS ENTITY, PARTNERSHIP,
16 COMPANY, CORPORATION, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION,
17 ASSOCIATION, GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, EDUCATIONAL OR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS,
18 PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, OR ANY OTHER GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, OR ANY
19 OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OR AGENT THEREOF; AND
20 (C) "PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE" MEANS THE SMALLEST NON-DIVISIBLE, ENVIRON-
21 MENTALLY PROTECTED ASSEMBLY OF PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS OR OTHER PHOTOVOLTAIC
22 COLLECTOR TECHNOLOGY AND ANCILLARY PARTS INTENDED TO GENERATE ELECTRICAL
23 POWER UNDER SUNLIGHT, EXCEPT THAT "PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE" DOES NOT INCLUDE
24 A PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL THAT IS PART OF A CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR
25 WHICH IT PROVIDES ELECTRICITY NEEDED TO MAKE THE CONSUMER ELECTRONIC
26 DEVICE FUNCTION. "PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE" INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13800-01-5
S. 8933 2
1 INTERCONNECTIONS, TERMINALS, AND PROTECTIVE DEVICES SUCH AS DIODES THAT
2 ARE:
3 (I) INSTALLED ON, CONNECTED TO, OR INTEGRAL WITH BUILDINGS; OR
4 (II) USED AS COMPONENTS OF FREESTANDING, OFF-GRID, POWER GENERATION
5 SYSTEMS, SUCH AS FOR POWERING WATER PUMPING STATIONS, ELECTRIC VEHICLE
6 CHARGING STATIONS, FENCING, STREET AND SIGNAGE LIGHTS, AND OTHER COMMER-
7 CIAL OR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.