PFAS UPDATE: New Mexico Passes First PFAS State Regs of 2025

In the evening of 8 April 2025, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law the first of two bills regulating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at the state level in 2025. The Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances Protection Act (HB 212) and the “Hazardous Waste Constituent” Definition (HB140) were passed in March 2025 by both bodies of the state legislature with overwhelming support and represent the first major regulatory step in New Mexico to combat PFAS at the state level.

PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals” due to their widespread use and propensity to bioaccumulate, have been detected in plants and wildlife near New Mexico’s Lake Holloman at some of the highest levels worldwide. PFAS have been linked to several serious health concerns, from reproductive effects to increased risk of multiple forms of cancer. Because of these findings, experts in New Mexico have long been concerned about the amount of PFAS in the environment. The passage of HB 212 and HB 140 are the culmination of some of these concerns.

“Our PFAS legislation protects public health and shifts cleanup costs from taxpayers to polluters, preventing expensive remediation in the future while exempting critical industrial applications,” said Lujan Grisham. “These bills ensure clean water for generations while strategically positioning New Mexico for sustainable economic growth in key industries across our state.”