The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association said the new law is especially important for dairy manufacturers that manage wastewater under permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Under the legislation, processors and farms that followed the rules and complied with their permits will not be held responsible for PFAS contamination they did not create.

Industry leaders argued that the previous lack of clarity created significant uncertainty for dairy plants and could have discouraged future investment in Wisconsin’s milk processing sector. The new framework is intended to protect businesses that comply with Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements while still allowing the state to pursue cleanup efforts and hold actual polluters accountable.

The legislation also frees up more than $130 million for statewide cleanup programs, including support for communities with contaminated water supplies, expanded well compensation grants and emergency drinking water assistance. State officials say remediation work and expanded water testing are expected to begin later this year.