relative to the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on agriculture, exempting certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl products from use restrictions, and relative to the definition of "drinking water standard".

The definition of 'drinking water standard' was changed from allowing the commissioner to use any 'analogous federal standard' at their discretion, to specifically referencing the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulations under 42 U.S.C. section 300g-1, but only if formally adopted by the commissioner for use in this chapter.

A new clarifying sentence was added stating that standards established under RSA 485:16-e shall remain the operative drinking water standard for all other purposes, limiting the application of any federally adopted PFAS regulations to this chapter only.

A new section exempts products authorized by or under contract with the U.S. Department of Defense that are covered by ITAR (22 C.F.R. parts 120-130) or EAR (15 C.F.R. part 730, et seq.) from PFAS use restrictions under RSA 149-M:64, II(a).

A new section amends RSA 485-H:2, III to define 'drinking water standard' as the PFAS maximum contaminant levels established under RSA 485:16-e or, at the commissioner's discretion, an analogous federal standard. This definition applies to certain water management and protection funds and programs.

The effective date was split into two parts: the new drinking water standard definition (Section 4) takes effect 60 days after passage, while all other provisions take effect immediately upon passage.

The entire Agricultural PFAS Relief Fund (RSA 431:38) was deleted. This fund would have been financed by litigation recoveries against PFAS manufacturers, settlements, gifts, and federal grants, and used for testing, water filtration, business adaptation, education, health services, and remediation on farms affected by PFAS.

The provision requiring moneys deposited into the agricultural PFAS relief fund to be tracked under RSA 6:12, I(b) was removed along with the fund itself.

The 5-year moratorium prohibiting all land application of sludge or biosolids on agricultural land was removed entirely.

A new provision (RSA 485-A:5-d) requires the Department of Environmental Services to initiate rulemaking by June 30, 2027 to develop concentration-based standards for PFAS in biosolids at land-application sites. Standards must be tied to ambient groundwater quality standards under RSA 485-C and include soil testing requirements. Beginning January 1, 2028, land application is prohibited if PFAS concentrations exceed the applicable standards.

The definition of 'Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances' (new paragraph XXV in RSA 485-A:2) was removed from the bill.

The effective date was shortened from 60 days after passage to immediately upon passage.