HB199

As a primary care physician, practicing in the capital region, I ask that you vote in favor of this bill. The potential risks of PFAs are still being studied. the likelihood that harm takes many years or decades to manifest is highly likely to be proven. This bill will allow time for the proper study to be completed so as to not falsely hold corporations accountable, but to also preserve the recourse for individuals who are harmed by these exposures to have recompense in due time. Based on what we know thus far about the potential harms of PFAs, these are likely to be insidious in onset, and the longer timeframe is a very appropriate consideration. Thank you for your kind attention to this perspective. SIncerely, Eric Kropp, MD

I'm State Rep. Kat McGhee of Hillsborough 35, Hollis. I'm a co-sponsor on HB199 which is about allowing adequate time for Granite Staters who are exposed to harmful PFAS substances to file rightful civil actions for harms done to their health. This bills has been worked by the Legislature in prior sessions and is coming back again with an amendment that defines a time certain. The issue seems to be that healthy effects are hard to identify and often do not show up in those affected for sometimes years after exposure. We are trying to ensure that if someone who was exposed to these forever chemicals has a health problem that is determined to be related to that exposure, that they can have legal action available to them to help them cover treatment expenses that resulted from their exposure to toxins that the body cannot metabolize. I hope you will listen to the testimony of those who can be with you today and vote HB199 Ought to Pass. Thanks. Rep. Kat McGhee

Blockchain is a highly innovative and important technology. However, NH already has some of the highest energy costs in the country and blockchain companies are heavily energy intensive. I am concerned that this bill could further increase already unaffordable energy prices.

I believe that people should be given unlimited time to sue a company in the case of forever chemicals. Affected people need to be able to make their case that they have been poisoned and it might be a long time before they make the connection that where they lived, what their water source was and that they have cancer. These companies and most of all 3M need to be held accountable like the other big industries that set out to do harm just to make a profit.

HB199 Testimony Rep. Nancy Murphy Hills. #12/ Merrimack 1/29/25 Good morning Mr. Chair and Honorable Committee Members, I write today to express my support for HB199, and in hopes that you consider supporting its passage as well. Though I would vastly prefer that there be no statute of limitations on civil actions for harm or injury relative to damage caused by per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); extending the statute of limitations to within 20 years after the plaintiff discovers (or should have discovered) that harm/injury and the causal relationship, is the right thing to do. The duty of state government is to act in the best interest of its citizens. Passing HB199 is certainly a step in the right direction. For the past 8-10 years, those of us living in PFAS-contaminated communities, have sought (most often unsuccessfully), the environmental and public health protections we need to address the public health crisis created here in NH by PFAS polluters. While lobbyists for polluters have ready access to the ear of those in the General Court; citizen advocates, some of whom (inspired to address the PFAS contamination of our state) have become legislators; have found themselves continually bucking a system that protects and prioritizes polluters (and their profits), above the people of NH and their right to public health protections. The Merrimack, NH community (ground zero for southern NH’s PFAS contamination at the hands of industrial polluter, Saint Gobain); has been essentially begging the State of NH since 2018 (without success), for a comprehensive health study of its PFAS-contaminated community. Families like my own have received multiple cancer, autoimmune, and other diagnoses known to be linked to PFAS exposure. In my family, genetics is known not to be the culprit, as the majority of my family members are not biologically related. The impacted citizens are here. The data is here just waiting to be collected. But neither the State of NH nor any division within the Department of Health and Human Services has prioritized collecting ‘health outcomes’ information that would be so helpful in making the association between PFAS exposure and health outcomes. That may be precisely the point. As long as there is no proof of “causation” there is no liability. This benefits PFAS polluters, and fails citizen victims of their contamination. A more recent Merrimack Kidney Cancer Phase 3 Feasibility Study only came about as a result of the cancer registry data FINALLY showing a 42% increased incidence of kidney cancer amongst residents. The question now is… “How many years will it take for health-harmed residents to be able to “prove” that their kidney cancer is the result of their PFAS exposure here?” It took years for federal scientist Dr. Linda Birnbaum (National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences at the NIH), to be allowed by our federal government to state publicly that PFAS are not merely “linked” or “known to be associated with” cancer, but actually “cause cancer.” It took many years to finally prove that PFOA causes kidney cancer. The research on how PFAS impacts our health is still ongoing, and it’s going to take some time for us to fully understand the effects these forever chemicals are having on us. As cross-sectional studies are not good for really examining causation, longitudinal studies will be necessary to make that determination. When considering how long impacted citizens should have to initiate civil actions relative to damage caused by PFAS, it is important to remember that chronic diseases such as cancer have a latency period that is affected by age, exposure level and duration of exposure. It can be decades before a cancer diagnosis is made. Despite Merrimack citizens having a great deal of other anecdotal evidence of health impacts known to be associated with PFAS exposure, those negative health impacts are not being reflected in any health data collection. It will take years after such data is collected to prove harm, and who knows how many years after that, to prove which person or entity is ”legally responsible” for that harm. Let’s face it….The deck is already seriously stacked against victims of PFAS contamination, and even more so against those who might try to hold a party responsible for the negative health impacts that result. The very least those of us in the General Court can do for citizens who’ve been harmed by PFAS polluters the state has failed to hold sufficiently accountable, is to allow our citizens more time to take action on their own. For these reasons, I fully support HB199 and ask the committee to look favorably upon this important legislation and vote OTP. Thank you, Rep. Nancy Murphy

We must protect our lakes! And our groundwater.

There needs to be more time to file claims since the PFA's problems are so pervasive and enduring.

HB 199 Testimony before the House Judiciary Committee January 29, 2025 This testimony is in strong support of HB199. I would prefer, however, that instead of extending the statute of limitations to twenty years, you remove the statute of limitations entirely. I served two terms in the House (2014-2018) as a Republican Representative from Richmond and Swanzey on the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee. Were I still in the legislature, I would have co-sponsored HB 199. Much of my time in the legislature was spent on pollution issues. In the town of Swanzey, for example, well contamination from MTBE leaking underground at a single gas station has resulted in an unusually high number of cancer cases and rendered homes unsaleable. PFAS is a similar contaminant and in some ways even more obviously dangerous. When Saint Gobain operated its PFAS factory in Bennington, Vermont, on humid days swimming pools near the plant would have a green PFAS film on their surfaces and that same PFAS would fall on the ground. As PFAS has very low viscosity, the next rain would immediately add it to the water table. Cancer cases were common in the area. When Vermont told Saint Gobain they would be shut down if they didn’t put scrubbers on their smokestacks, the company made it clear that if Vermont insisted on this they’d simply close the facility and move production to New Hampshire. Which is what they did. When in the legislature I concluded NH’s Department of Environmental Services was not sufficiently proactive. The fact that Saint Gobain, knowing that it was a polluter, simply decided to move production to New Hampshire suggests that Saint Gobain, and probably other polluters, came to the same conclusion. I’d like to think things have changed but have my doubts. Extending the Statute of Limitations to twenty years makes us a little less welcoming to polluters. Removing the Statute of Limitations entirely would send a much more effective message. Polluters who know they’re polluters should be made to understand that New Hampshire doesn’t want their business. James W. McConnell 42 Monadnock Highway North Swanzey, NH 03431

The time line for civil action needs to be extended for damages caused by PFAS to twenty years.

We must do everything we can to protect our citizens, especially our children, from dangerous chemicals.

I have read and fully support the testimony of Melissa Hansen, a Portsmouth resident (whom I do not know) that she submitted through the online portal. I refer to her testimony because it articulates many of the arguments that other supporters (such as myself) might wish to have made.

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong support for House Bill 199, which extends the statute of limitations for civil actions related to damage caused by per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These harmful chemicals are detrimental to the health and safety of individuals across our state and nation. PFAS contamination has been linked to a range of serious health issues, and the effects often do not become apparent until years after exposure. By extending the statute of limitations, this bill ensures that individuals affected by PFAS exposure have a fair opportunity to seek justice, even if the harm is discovered long after the initial exposure. It is critical that companies responsible for releasing these toxic substances into the environment are held accountable for the damage they cause. We must prioritize the health and well-being of our communities and take action to address the long-term impacts of PFAS contamination. I urge you to support this bill, as it is a necessary step toward protecting public health and holding polluters accountable for their actions. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Melissa

I'm 78. I have 73 years of joyful memories of enchanted days at Forest Lake and its surrounds - including the ambient aroma of clear, pure sun-warmed water. Please, don't deny this transcendent experience of nature's blessings to future generations. Thank you.

There are many people and towns still dealing with PFAS and courts are slow to move things along because courts have many items on their dockets. People and towns should have the time to file civil actions.

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