March 26, 2026
SACRAMENTO — A new bill in California would ban the persistent, toxic “forever chemical” pesticides that build up in the environment and in our bodies. AB 1603, introduced by Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank), would ban the use, sale, and manufacture of PFAS pesticides in California in 2035. The bill would also immediately pause state approvals of new PFAS pesticides. This bill is cosponsored by Pesticide Action & Agroecology Network, the Environmental Working Group, Californians for Pesticide Reform, and the Center for Environmental Health.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been in use since the 1930s, and they are used for dozens of purposes including grease and water resistance, nonstick coatings, firefighting foams, and pesticides. They’re called “forever chemicals” because they are persistent in the environment, meaning they build up in soil, water, and plant matter. They’re difficult to clean or remediate, and as we learn more about their harmful effects on humans and the environment, more state and local governments are taking action to ban or further regulate their use.
“As a father, I don’t want my kids eating strawberries contaminated with chemicals that will stay in their bodies for decades,” Assemblymember Schultz said. “AB 1603 is a vital step toward ensuring California’s agricultural legacy is defined by health and innovation, not by the accumulation of toxic PFAS in our soil and water. We are providing a clear, responsible road map for our farmers to transition away from these persistent chemicals while re-establishing California as a global leader in food safety.”
PFAS chemicals are increasingly found contaminating the environment far from target crops, and even in our bodies, which has troubling implications to public health. Studies have linked PFAS to liver damage, immune suppression, higher cholesterol (a major contributor to heart disease), and kidney and testicular cancers. There are currently more than 15,000 PFAS chemicals in use according to EPA, yet they are still understudied. Banning these harmful chemicals from use as pesticides in California would be a strong step toward protecting the public from their harmful effects.
“The widespread pollution of PFAS in California and across the nation may be stealing the possibility of women to conceive the nation’s next generation, sabotaging the full potential of our children, burdening Californian families with cancer diagnoses, and reducing our ability to fight life-changing infectious diseases — expected to increase in the face of climate change. Is the convenience of conventional farming worth an additional source of toxic PFAS in our bodies?” Sakereh Maskal, Policy and Advocacy Lead at PAN, said.
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Pesticide Action & Agroecology Network’s mission is to end reliance on hazardous pesticides and achieve health, resilience and justice in food and farming. PAN uses grassroots science, strategic communications and coalition organizing to build power with communities across the U.S. and around the world to confront the harms of industrial agriculture and build solutions, and is one of five regional centers who cooperate to transform systems of food and farming across the globe.
