Whitfield GOP opposes renewed PFAS liability shield bill

Opposition is growing in Northwest Georgia as lawmakers prepare to return to Atlanta, with local Republicans speaking out against a renewed effort to limit legal liability tied to PFAS contamination, according to WDEF.

The Whitfield County Republican Party says it is against the reintroduction of House Bill 211, legislation that would restrict lawsuits against carpet manufacturers accused of illegally disposing of PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals.”

In a statement posted online, Whitfield GOP Chairman MaKray Kyer said the proposal would harm residents who are already dealing with contamination concerns. The bill is sponsored by Dalton Republican Kasey Carpenter and was first introduced during the previous legislative session.

WDEF reports that residents across North Georgia have raised alarms after discovering elevated levels of PFAS on their properties, fueling concern that the legislation would remove one of the few avenues for accountability.

Attorney Ben Finley, who works with the advocacy group PFAS Georgia, criticized the bill, calling it dismissive of families affected by chemical pollution.

“It’s shameful that anyone would put forward legislation like House Bill 211,” Finley said. He argued that the carpet industry bears responsibility for PFAS contamination in Northwest Georgia and said shielding companies from lawsuits runs counter to the interests of local residents.