Rogers Reintroduces Bill to Phase Out Toxic Dry-Cleaning Solvent

  Press Release | Office of State Rep. Julie Rogers

LANSING, Mich., Jan. 20, 2026 — State Rep. Julie M. Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) reintroduced bipartisan legislation last week to phase out perchloroethylene, a toxic solvent used in some dry cleaning operations that can contaminate air, groundwater and soil. House Bill 5454 (2026) is a reintroduction from last term, which passed out of the House Committee on Natural Resources with bipartisan support.

Perchloroethylene, also known as PERC, is carcinogenic and neurotoxic. Working in or living near a dry cleaner using PERC is associated with negative health effects, including decreased cognitive performance. Over time, solvent releases at dry cleaning sites can create lasting contamination in soil and water and can pose ongoing risks through vapor intrusion.

“While serving on the Kalamazoo County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority for over a decade, I learned just how costly cleaning up dry cleaning sites contaminated with PERC can be,” Rogers said. “This policy is a commonsense solution that prevents the pollution from happening. Cleaning our clothes should not make our state dirtier.”

House Bill 5454 would phase out the use of PERC in stages to allow time for a transition to safer alternatives. Manufacturing of PERC dry cleaning fluid would end by December 2031, the sale of PERC dry cleaning fluid would end by June 2032, and the use of PERC for dry cleaning would end by December 2032. The bill would also establish a transition fund to help dry cleaners cover the cost of converting to new cleaning methods.

“Perchloroethylene is a well-documented toxic chemical that poses serious risks to both human health and the environment. Exposure has been linked to neurological harm and other adverse health outcomes, while its persistence in air, soil, and groundwater allows it to contaminate drinking water long after it is released. Continued use of this chemical unnecessarily puts Michiganders at risk, particularly in communities already overburdened by pollution. Safer alternatives exist, and practices must evolve to prevent further harm. Rep. Rogers’ HB 5454 is an important step toward protecting Michigan communities and our environment,” said Charlotte Jameson, Chief Policy Officer – Michigan Environmental Council.

HB 5454 has been referred to the House Regulatory Reform Committee. If it becomes law, Michigan would become the 3rd state to require dry cleaners move to a safer dry cleaning process utilizing alternatives to PERC.

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