A Wisconsin-developed firefighting foam made from soybeans is at the center of new legislative efforts. While the product offers a sustainable alternative to PFAS, a regulatory snag currently prevents local fire departments from using state grants to purchase it.
In 2020, the DNR banned the use of firefighting foams containing PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” due to concerns about water contamination. Sen. Howard Marklein explains that while the ban was praised for its environmental benefits, it left a vacuum for effective replacement suppressants.
SoyFoam is a bio-based product developed right in Wisconsin. Marklein is now leading the charge to ensure this innovation is accessible to departments with tight budgets.
“This bill that I authored would specifically authorize or tell the DNR that this soy foam is an eligible product that can be funded by this grant program,” he tells Mid-West Farm Report.
The proposed legislation would update the state’s existing grant program, which covers up to half the cost of supplies and suppressants. Because many rural and local fire departments operate on razor-thin margins, the grant is seen as the only viable way for them to transition away from older, hazardous materials.
Beyond public safety, Marklein says the bill represents a significant win for the state’s agricultural sector. By creating a new, high-demand use for local crops, lawmakers hope to provide a steady boost to the farming economy.
“It’s one of those things where I think it’s good for our soybean farmers, certainly, good for our fire departments, and it’s good for the environment,” he adds.
The bill has already moved through the Senate and is expected to be taken up by the Assembly in early 2026.
