Rhode Island house passes bills on forever chemicals, golf course defibrillators

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island house has passed a ban on a forever chemical use in firefighter gear.

Starting in January of 2027, firefighting equipment that intentionally has PFAS chemicals added to it will be banned.

The ban will also apply to firefighting foam, which, according to a release from the house, was the cause for at least two PFAS contamination incidents in the state.

The ban now heads to the senate for a final vote.

The state house has also advanced a bill that would require defibrillators on all golf courses.

That legislation is named The David Casey Act in memory of the Johnston man who died of a fatal heart attack at the 18th hole of the Cranston Country Club in 2023.

That bill now heads to the state senate.