Representing the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, Kyle Makarios testifies March 4 in support of a bill sponsored by Rep. Josh Heintzeman, right, that would exempt certain juvenile products from PFAS prohibitions. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A proposed bill in the Minnesota Legislature seeks to exempt off-highway vehicles, including ATVs, snowmobiles, and electric-assisted bicycles, from the state’s ban on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in juvenile products. The measure, HF81, sponsored by Rep. Josh Heintzeman (R-Nisswa), aims to extend the deadline for removing PFAS from these vehicles until 2032.
The 2023 law, known as “Amara’s Law,” prohibited the sale of PFAS-containing juvenile products beginning Jan. 1, 2025. However, Heintzeman and industry representatives argue that the timeline did not provide manufacturers with enough time to find suitable replacements.
During a House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee hearing on Tuesday, ATV and motorcycle industry representatives testified in support of the bill, emphasizing safety concerns. Chris Conroy, chair of the ATV Association of Minnesota Safety Committee, said the law has had “unintended consequences” by restricting the sale of smaller ATVs designed for younger riders.
“We need to give kids the opportunity to learn how to ride and operate ATVs on appropriately sized machines,” Conroy stated, warning that the restriction could push parents to buy larger, less safe vehicles for children or purchase from out-of-state dealers.
The committee approved the bill in a 7-5 party-line vote, advancing it to the House floor for further debate.
However, environmental advocates and state regulators have voiced strong opposition. Avonna Starck, state director of Clean Water Action, criticized the industry’s response, arguing that manufacturers failed to prepare for the PFAS ban despite having ample warning.
“This is not a failure of the law, but of industry’s refusal to prepare,” Starck said.
Kirk Koudelka, assistant commissioner for land policy at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, warned that the bill could reverse progress in reducing PFAS contamination.
“[The bill] would allow manufacturers to introduce PFAS to new items moving forward, thus going in the wrong direction,” Koudelka cautioned.
PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” have been linked to serious health risks, including cancer and immune system damage. The 2023 law was named in honor of Amara Strande, a Minnesota woman who spent her final months advocating for the ban before passing away at age 20.
The bill now heads to the full House, where lawmakers will decide whether to grant the ATV and off-highway vehicle industry an exemption from the PFAS regulations.