SENATE DOCKET, NO. 152        FILED ON: 1/8/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Michael O. Moore

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act prohibiting state and municipal contracts for the purchase and installation of artificial turf fields.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 152        FILED ON: 1/8/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2057 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act prohibiting state and municipal contracts for the purchase and installation of artificial turf fields.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 29 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 72.

As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Intentionally-added PFAS”, PFAS chemicals that are added to a product or that enter the product from the manufacturing or processing of the product; provided, however, that the manufacturer of the product knows, or is reasonably expected to know, or possesses or controls information of the addition of PFAS chemicals; and provided further, that “intentionally-added PFAS” shall include any degradation products containing PFAS chemicals or products for which PFAS chemicals or PFAS precursors are used as a processing agent or mold release agent or PFAS created by chemical reactions.

“Perfluoraolkyl and polyfluoraolkyl substances” or “PFAS chemicals”, a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least 1 fully fluorinated carbon atom.

No state agency or state authority shall provide funding for the purchase, use or installation of artificial turf that contains zinc, plastic, or intentionally-added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances for any new or existing field. Any existing artificial turf field containing zinc, plastic, or intentionally-added PFAS chemicals shall be allowed to be used for its useful life but shall not be replaced with artificial turf containing zinc, plastic, or intentionally-added PFAS chemicals.

SECTION 2. Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 70.

“Intentionally-added PFAS”, PFAS chemicals that are added to a product or that enter the product from the manufacturing or processing of the product; provided, however, that the manufacturer of the product knows, or is reasonably expected to know, or possesses or controls information of the addition of PFAS chemicals; and provided further, that “intentionally-added PFAS” shall include any degradation products containing PFAS chemicals or products for which PFAS chemicals or PFAS precursors are used as a processing agent or mold release agent or PFAS created by chemical reactions.

“Local government”, a county, city, town or other municipal entity.

“Perfluoraolkyl and polyfluoraolkyl substances” or “PFAS chemicals”, a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least 1 fully fluorinated carbon atom.

No local government shall provide funding for the purchase, use or installation of artificial turf that contains zinc, plastic, or intentionally-added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances for any new or existing field. Any existing artificial turf field containing zinc, plastic, or intentionally-added PFAS chemicals shall be allowed to be used for its useful life but shall not be replaced with artificial turf containing zinc, plastic, or intentionally-added PFAS chemicals.