May ’26 at-a-glance … environment

May 13, 2026

Products and equipment using HFCs and HFC blends must be labeled 

Refrigeration and other equipment that uses HFCs and HFC blends must meet EPA AIM Act labeling requirements for each subsector. Jan. 1, 2026 was the effective date for chillers and industrial process refrigeration equipment; and Jan. 1, 2027 is the effective date for ice machines and refrigerated food processing and dispensing equipment. The EPA provides a detailed fact sheet with labeling examples.  

California emission reporting requirement near Aug. 10 deadline; discussions continue 

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued modified language and additional information for proposed amendments to the cap on greenhouse gas emissions and market-based compliance. Comments were due April 29. SB 253 requires US companies with total annual revenues in excess of $1 billion that do business in California to annually disclose their Scope 1, 2 (by Aug. 10, 2026) and Scope 3 (in 2027) GHG emissions for the prior fiscal year. Legal challenges are ongoing, but the reporting deadlines have not changed.  

Companion legislation – SB 261 – requires large companies (>$500 million in revenue) doing business in California to disclose climate-related financial risks every two years. The Climate-Related Financial Risk Act) is currently paused due to litigation. 

PFAS Updates  

  • Jay West, senior director, Chemical Products and Technology at the American Chemistry Council (ACC) joined NAFEM’s Sanitation & Environment Task Group meeting to discuss the continued proliferation of PFAS legislation. He emphasized that fluoropolymers are a distinct type of polymeric PFAS and should be considered separately from other PFAS categories. 
    • West noted that the five states with the highest numbers of PFAS-related bills are Minnesota (67), New York (54), Maine (41), Indiana (24) and Hawaii (20). States with bans on intentionally added PFAS in cookware include Colorado, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont. He urged NAFEM member companies to engage earlier in the legislative process and prepare for policies that allow PFAS deemed to have a “currently unavoidable use (CUU).” CUU is defined as “essential for health, safety, or the functioning of society and for which alternatives are reasonable available” 
  • The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency extended the due date to Sept. 15 for PFAS in products reporting. The Agency also posted additional how-to videos and offers individual technical support.  
  • Delaware released its 2026 PFAS Implementation Plan that focuses on tracking, reducing and communicating PFAS exposure. The plan calls for coordination across government agencies to explore legislative and regulatory approaches to reduce PFAS. 
  • Virginia’s HB 938 introduces new PFAS monitoring obligations that may affect equipment manufacturers whose operations discharge industrial wastewater to publicly owned treatment works. Facilities in sectors with potential PFAS use will be required to conduct quarterly testing and report results. The law does not impose immediate restrictions on PFAS use.  
  • The European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) PFAS initiative continues to evolve. In January 2023, five European countries submitted a proposal to regulate the entire PFAS class (10,000+ substances). ECHA incorporated stakeholder comments into an updated background document published in August 2025. As of 2026, the proposal is in scientific committee evaluation with final opinions expected to inform a European Commission decision, likely leading to phased restrictions or bans with exemptions and transition periods. 

Efforts to thwart federal heat standard ongoing 

NAFEM joined nearly 40 members of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in encouraging U.S. Senate support of the soon-to-be introduced Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2026 as companion legislation to the House 2025 bill. Both measures aim to block the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from finalizing its proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Indoor and Outdoor Work Settings and from introducing similar regulations in the future.  

Toxic Substances Control Act webinar series 

Webinars explaining the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) will be held June 11 and July 9 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Hosted by the National Association Manufacturers (NAM) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the sessions will explain how TSCA works, how it may affect business operations and supply chains, and what steps to take when a chemical of interest enters the chemical review process. NAFEM will share links for the sessions when they are available.