California lawmakers vote 41–19 to ban ‘Forever Chemicals’

Sacramento, California – California lawmakers voted late Friday to phase out the use of PFAS—commonly known as “forever chemicals”—in cookware and a wide range of household products, pushing forward one of the most sweeping bans of the chemicals in the country.

The measure, Senate Bill 682, passed the Assembly on a 41–19 vote, with 20 lawmakers not voting. It cleared the Senate shortly after and now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has until October 12 to sign it. The legislation would prohibit PFAS in cookware, cleaning products, dental floss, ski wax, food packaging, and certain children’s items. Cookware must comply by 2030, with different timelines set for other products.

PFAS are a family of thousands of compounds developed more than 70 years ago and widely used for their resistance to heat, stains, and water. They are found in everything from nonstick pans to carpets, firefighting foam, and cosmetics. But the very durability that made PFAS useful also makes them nearly impossible to break down. They persist in soil and water for decades and accumulate in human bodies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found PFAS in the blood of nearly every American. Studies link exposure to cancers, liver and kidney damage, and harm to reproductive and nervous systems.

Sen. Ben Allen, a Democrat from Southern California who sponsored the bill, said the dangers outweigh the convenience. “PFAS pose a level of serious risks that require us to take a measured approach to reduce their proliferation and unnecessary use throughout the marketplace,” he said after the vote. “With SB 682, California can take another strong step toward responsibly phasing out these toxins.”

The legislation has triggered a fierce debate, particularly around nonstick cookware. The Cookware Sustainability Alliance, which represents manufacturers and designers, lobbied hard against the bill. High-profile chefs including Rachael Ray, Thomas Keller, Marcus Samuelsson, and David Chang wrote lawmakers warning that banning Teflon-coated pans would burden families with higher costs and inferior alternatives. “PTFEs, when manufactured and used responsibly, are proven to be safe and effective,” Ray argued in her letter.

Industry representatives say regulators back them up. “Since the 1960s, the FDA has authorized PTFE and other fluoropolymers for use in food-contact applications,” said Steve Burns, the alliance’s executive director. “As recently as early 2025, the FDA reaffirmed that PTFE in nonstick coatings remains approved.”

Environmental groups counter that the coatings aren’t harmless. Anna Reade of the Natural Resources Defense Council points to studies showing that overheated or scratched pans can shed PFAS particles or microplastics into food. Actor Mark Ruffalo, who has become a prominent voice on PFAS contamination since starring in Dark Waters, amplified that argument with a letter urging celebrity chefs to support the ban. “Independent science shows that the PFAS in cookware can wind up in our food,” Ruffalo wrote.

California has already banned PFAS in carpets, textiles, and firefighting foam. The new measure builds on those steps, part of a broader trend among states taking more aggressive action as federal rules lag. If signed by Newsom, the bill would put California once again at the forefront of environmental regulation, reshaping consumer markets while pressing manufacturers to adopt alternatives already available, like stainless steel and cast iron.

For supporters, it is a matter of aligning daily life with long-term health. For critics, it’s a case of lawmakers moving faster than science. But either way, the state that often sets the pace for the nation has signaled it is ready to push “forever chemicals” closer to extinction.