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Minnesota

The state of Minnesota has been a national leader in protecting children’s health from toxic chemical exposure. Minnesota was the first in the nation to ban Bisphenol-A (BPA) from baby bottles and sippy cups and the first to ban formaldehyde-releasing chemicals from children’s shampoo and other body products. In 2009, Minnesota adopted the Toxic-Free Kids Act to ensure consumers have important information about priority chemicals in children’s products and can have the choice of purchasing safer products.

In more recent years, Minnesota has banned certain flame-retardant chemicals in mattresses and other household products to protect firefighters and children from exposure to toxins that pose a health risk. In 2021, Minnesota adopted an omnibus bill that provides funding to develop and implement an initiative to reduce sources of PFAS contamination and prohibits PFAS in food packaging.

 

 

minnesota

Minnesota Partners

State Progress

Bill Tracker for Minnesota

Current Policy

Chemical Prioritization / Disclosure / Phase-out ,
PFAS ,
Chemicals used in Cleaning, Cosmetics and Construction
S.F.834: Beginning January 1, 2025, requires disclosure of products containing intentionally added PFAS and prohibits the sale or distribution of certain products containing intentionally added PFAS including carpets or rugs, cleaning products, cookware, cosmetics, fabric treatment, juvenile products, textile furnishings, ski wax, or upholstered furniture.
Chemical Prioritization / Disclosure / Phase-out ,
PFAS ,
Chemicals used in Cleaning, Cosmetics and Construction
H.F.1000: Beginning January 1, 2025, requires disclosure of products containing intentionally added PFAS and prohibits the sale or distribution of certain products containing intentionally added PFAS including carpets or rugs, cleaning products, cookware, cosmetics, fabric treatment, juvenile products, textile furnishings, ski wax, or upholstered furniture.
Chemical Prioritization / Disclosure / Phase-out ,
PFAS
H.F.2096: Prohibits perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in ski wax.
Chemical Prioritization / Disclosure / Phase-out ,
PFAS
S.F.2222: Prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of juvenile products that contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
Chemical Prioritization / Disclosure / Phase-out ,
PFAS
H.F.372: Requires manufacturers of a product for sale that contains PFAS to submit a written notice that includes the function served by PFAS in the product, the amount of each of the PFAS, and any other information as required by the state commissioner.
Toxic Chemicals General,
Chemicals used in Cleaning, Cosmetics and Construction
H.F.2236: Creates a grant program that focuses on public health outreach to Black and people of color communities​ on the issues of colorism, skin-lightening products, and chemical exposures from these​ products.
Mercury
S.F.3345: Bans certain mercury-containing lighting.
Mercury ,
Toxic Chemicals General
S.F.2503: Creates a grant program that focuses on public health outreach to Black and people of color communities​ on the issues of colorism, skin-lightening products, and chemical exposures from these​ products.
PFAS
S.F.3342: Appropriates funding for the study of PFAS in biosolids.
PFAS
H.F.742: Prohibits the sale, distribution, and use of class B firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals.
PFAS
S.F.669: Prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of ski wax that contains perfluoroalkyl and​ polyfluoroalkyl substances.
PFAS
S.F.787: Appropriates $20 million to the Pollution Control Agency for a grant to St. Louis County to design, engineer, and construct a new municipal solid waste landfill and to prevent perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and other​ contaminants from entering Lake Superior.
PFAS
S.F.776: Prohibits the sale, distribution, and use of class B firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals.
PFAS
S.F.871: Appropriates $4.5 million to the Pollution Control Agency for a grant to St. Louis County to design, engineer,​ and construct the replacement of the leachate treatment system at the St. Louis County​ Regional Landfill. This appropriation includes money for a control building, aeration and​ treatment ponds, an ultra filtration system, and an engineered manufactured wetland to​ reduce perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
PFAS
H.F.960: Appropriates $20 million to the Pollution Control Agency for a grant to St. Louis County to design, engineer, and construct a new municipal solid waste landfill and to prevent perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and other​ contaminants from entering Lake Superior.
PFAS
H.F.1152: Appropriates $20 million to the Pollution Control Agency for a grant to St. Louis County to design, engineer, and construct a new municipal solid waste landfill and to prevent perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and other​ contaminants from entering Lake Superior.
PFAS
H.F.1150: Prohibits the state registration of a pesticide product that contains​ a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance as an inert ingredient or other intentionally​ added substance.​
PFAS
H.F.1283: Requires the Pollution Control Agency to adopt rules establishing water quality standards for PFOA and PFOS.
PFAS
S.F.1721: Clean Water Council requirement to recommend appropriating money from the clean water fund to provide grants to counties to reduce discharges of PFAS into Lake Superior.
PFAS
S.F. 73: Packaging for cannabis flower, cannabinoid products, and hemp-derived consumer​ products must not contain or be coated with any perfluoroalkyl substance.
PFAS
H.F.2005: Requires the Clean Water Council to recommend appropriating money from clean water fund to provide grants to counties to reduce discharges of PFAS into Lake Superior.
PFAS
H.F.2586: Imposes a gross revenues tax on entities manufacturing and​ selling products containing PFAS. Funds raised by the tax will be used for cleanup.
PFAS
S.F.2882: Requires monitoring of biofuel, air emissions, wastewater, and coproducts for the presence of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances.
PFAS
S.F.2842: Imposes a gross revenues tax on entities manufacturing and​ selling products containing PFAS. Funds raised by the tax will be used for cleanup.
PFAS
S.F.450: Requires manufacturers of a product for sale in the state that contains​ intentionally added PFAS to disclose the function served by PFAS in the product, the amount of each of the PFAS, the name, address, and contact number of the manufacturer, and any other information, as required by rule adopted by the commissioner.
PFAS
S.F.3198: Appropriates $3.5 million to the city of Cottage Grove for a new multiuse water, engineering, and utilities facility made necessary in part by the additional staff, equipment, office and storage space required to address PFAS contamination.
PFAS
H.F.3163: Appropriates $3.5 million to the city of Cottage Grove for a new multiuse water, engineering, and utilities facility made necessary in part by the additional staff, equipment, office and storage space required to address PFAS contamination.
PFAS
H.F.3115: Appropriates $61 million for a grant to the city of Hastings to construct and equip three water treatment plants and associated water mains to remove perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances from city wells.
PFAS
H.F.552: Beginning January 1, 2025, prohibits PFAS chemicals in juvenile products.
PFAS ,
Plastics
H.F.172: Appropriations bill. Provides $478,000 to the Board of Regents of the University of​ Minnesota to develop novel methods for the​ detection, sequestration, and degradation of​ perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl in Minnesota's lakes and rivers. Provides $412,000 the Board of​ Regents of the University of Minnesota for​ the Large Lakes Observatory in Duluth to​ investigate the abundance, characteristics, and​ fate of microplastic particles in Lake Superior​ to inform remediation strategies and analyses​ of environmental impacts.
PFAS ,
Plastics
H.F.2571: Requires truth in labeling for recyclable products. To be considered recyclable, a product or packaging must not contain intentionally added PFAS at or above 100 ppm.
PFAS ,
Plastics
S.F.2939: Requires truth in labeling for recyclable products. To be considered recyclable, a product or packaging must not contain intentionally added PFAS at or above 100 ppm.
PFAS ,
Plastics
S.F.442: Appropriations bill. Provides $478,000 to the Board of Regents of the University of​ Minnesota to develop novel methods for the​ detection, sequestration, and degradation of​ perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl in Minnesota's lakes and rivers. Provides $412,000 to the Board of​ Regents of the University of Minnesota for​ the Large Lakes Observatory in Duluth to​ investigate the abundance, characteristics, and​ fate of microplastic particles in Lake Superior​ to inform remediation strategies and analyses​ of environmental impacts.
PFAS ,
Toxic Flame Retardants
S.F.2438: Appropriations bill. Provides $25 million for grants to​ support planning, designing, and preparing for​ solutions for public water treatment systems​ contaminated with PFAS. Provides $4.4 million to​ identify sources of PFAS entering facilities​ and to develop pollution prevention and​ reduction initiatives to reduce PFAS entering facilities, prevent releases, and monitor the​ effectiveness of these projects. Provides funding to implement and enforce flame retardant provisions.
Toxic Chemicals General,
Plastics
H.F.2126: Establishes definitions related to plastics. Appropriates $2 million from the general fund to the commissioner​ of the Pollution Control Agency to develop protocols to be used by agencies and departments​ for sampling and testing groundwater, surface water, public drinking water, and private​ wells for microplastics and nanoplastics and to begin implementation.
Toxic Chemicals General,
Plastics
S.F.2245: Establishes definitions related to plastics. Appropriates $2 million from the general fund to the commissioner​ of the Pollution Control Agency to develop protocols to be used by agencies and departments​ for sampling and testing groundwater, surface water, public drinking water, and private​ wells for microplastics and nanoplastics and to begin implementation.
Toxic Chemicals General,
Plastics
H.F.2693: Establishes a zero-waste grant program. Excludes so-called "chemical recycling" from the definition of "recycling. 
Toxic Chemicals General,
Plastics
S.F.2901: Establishes a zero-waste grant program. Defines "recycling" as to exclude all "chemical recycling" and energy recovery processes.
Toxic Chemicals General
H.F.637: Prohibits the issuance, renewal, or approval of a major amendment to a facility permit that potentially increases pollution levels or the toxicity of​ emissions in an environmental justice area. Modifies requirements to analyze and consider cumulative​ pollution before issuing air quality permits.
Toxic Chemicals General
S.F.466: Prohibits the issuance, renewal, or approval of a major amendment to a facility permit that potentially increases pollution levels or the toxicity of​ emissions in an environmental justice area. Modifies requirements to analyze and consider cumulative​ pollution before issuing air quality permits.

Adopted Policy

BPA, Phthalates, and Chemicals Used in Plastic
SF 247: Bans BPA in sippy cups. (Adopted in 2009)
Chemical Prioritization / Disclosure / Phase-out ,
PFAS ,
Toxic Flame Retardants ,
BPA, Phthalates, and Chemicals Used in Plastic ,
Heavy Metals ,
Chemicals used in Cleaning, Cosmetics and Construction
HF 2123: Generates a list of chemicals of high concern and priority chemicals, along with participation in Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse. (Adopted in 2009)
BPA, Phthalates, and Chemicals Used in Plastic ,
Food Packaging
HF 459 : Bans BPA from formula and children’s food containers, specifies it not be replaced with a chemical known or suspected to cause harm. (Adopted in 2013)
Cadmium ,
Heavy Metals
SF 2510: Bans cadmium in children’s jewelry. (Adopted in 2010)
Chemical Prioritization / Disclosure / Phase-out ,
PFAS ,
Chemicals used in Cleaning, Cosmetics and Construction
H.F.2310: Appropriates funding to address PFAS contamination. Restricts all unnecessary PFAS uses by 2032, bans 13 product categories specific uses, and requires companies to disclose presence of PFAS in any product. Prohibits the sale, distribution, and use of class B firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals. Requires Pollution Control Agency to establish water quality standards for certain PFAS chemicals. (Adopted in 2023)
Formaldehyde ,
Chemicals used in Cleaning, Cosmetics and Construction
HF 458: Bans formaldehyde from children’s products, specifies it not be replaced with a chemical known or suspected to cause harm. (Adopted in 2013)
Formaldehyde ,
Mercury ,
Triclosan ,
Chemicals used in Cleaning, Cosmetics and Construction
SF 2192: Bans added lead and mercury from wheel weights, bans triclosan from hand sanitizers and soaps, modifies an existing formaldehyde ban. (Adopted in 2014)
PFAS ,
Food Packaging
SF 20: An omnibus environment and natural resources policy and finance bill. Provides funding to develop and implement an initiative to reduce sources of PFAS upstream of wastewater treatment facilities. Provides funding to develop strategies to manage PFAS in land-applied biosolids. Includes a prohibition of PFAS in food packaging with an implementation date of Jan 1, 2024.  (Adopted in 2021)
Lead ,
Heavy Metals
SF 1262 : Bans lead in jewelry. (Adopted in 2007)
Mercury ,
Heavy Metals
Minn. Stat. § 121A.33: Prohibits a school from purchasing or using elemental mercury, instruments of measurement that contain mercury, and storing elemental mercury or instruments of measurement that contains mercury. (Adopted in 2007)
PFAS
HF 3765: Appropriates funds to research and address PFAS contamination. (Adopted in 2022)
PFAS ,
Toxic Flame Retardants
HF 359: Bans manufacture and sale of halogenated, phosphorus-based, nitrogen-based, and nanoscale flame retardants in residential upholstered furniture, children's products, and residential and business textiles. Prohibits the manufacture and sale of PFAS-containing firefighting foam. (Adopted in 2019)
Toxic Flame Retardants
SF 1215: Bans specified toxic flame retardants from children's products, mattresses, and residential upholstered furniture, specifies that not be replaced with chemicals that are carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, or otherwise cause developmental toxicity. (Adopted in 2015)
Toxic Flame Retardants
SF 2096: Bans products containing the toxic flame retardants pentabromodiphenyl ether or octabromodiphenyl ether. Requires review of the flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ether, looking at safer alternatives, fire safety, and any evidence regarding the potential harm to public health and the environment. (Adopted in 2007)

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