New York State Assembly

 
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A09503 Summary:

A09503 Actions:

A09503 Committee Votes:

Committee:HEALTH   Chair:Paulin      
DATE:01/20/2026AYE/NAY:22/0  Action: Favorable refer to committee Rules        
Paulin
Aye
Jensen
Aye
Dinowitz
Aye
Gandolfo
Aye
Rosenthal
Aye
Blumencranz
Excused
Hevesi
Excused
Gray
Excused
Steck
Aye
Slater
Aye
Braunstein
Aye
Chludzinski
Aye
Bichotte Hermel
Aye
Norber
Aye
Sayegh
Aye
Durso
Aye
McDonald
Aye
Reyes
Aye
Gonzalez-Rojas
Aye
Rajkumar
Aye
Forrest
Aye
Kelles
Aye
Lucas
Aye
Meeks
Aye
Lunsford
Aye

Committee:RULES   Chair:Pretlow      
DATE:01/21/2026AYE/NAY:27/0  Action: Favorable         
Heastie
Excused
Barclay
Aye
Pretlow
Aye
Hawley
Aye
Cook
Excused
Blankenbush
Aye
Glick
Excused
Ra
Aye
Dinowitz
Aye
Brabenec
Aye
Colton
Aye
Palmesano
Aye
Magnarelli
Aye
Reilly
Aye
Paulin
Excused
Smith
Aye
Peoples-Stokes
Aye
Jensen
Aye
Benedetto
Aye
Lavine
Aye
Lupardo
Aye
Braunstein
Aye
Davila
Aye
Hyndman
Aye
Rozic
Aye
Bronson
Aye
Hevesi
Aye
Hunter
Aye
Taylor
Aye
Cruz
Aye
Vanel
Aye

A09503 Floor Votes:

A09503 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
 submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)



 
BILL NUMBER: A9503
 
SPONSOR: Rosenthal

 
TITLE OF BILL:
 
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to the restriction
of certain substances in menstrual products; and to amend a chapter of
the laws of 2025 amending the general business law relating to the
restriction of certain substances in menstrual products, as proposed in
legislative bills numbers S. 1548 and A. 1502, in relation to the effec-
tiveness thereof
 
 
PURPOSE:
 
To make changes to a chapter of the laws of 2025 related to restricting
substances from menstrual products.
 
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
 
This bill would amend chapter 674 of the laws of 2025 to clarify the
list of restricted substances in menstrual products to include lead,
mercury, and related compounds. This bill would also remove the obli-
gation for the department of health and department of environmental
conservation to establish in regulation the lowest level of each chemi-
cal that can feasibly be achieved, and the requirement to review these
levels every five years.
 
 
JUSTIFICATION:
 
People who menstruate may use more than 16,000 menstrual products over
the course of their lifetime, exposing their bodies to numerous chemi-
cals and substances. There have been reported instances of toxic shock
syndrome, which can stem from micro-tears in the vaginal wall through
which tampons can allow bacteria to accumulate. The World Health Organ-
ization has also identified certain dioxins as detrimental to human
health.
 
This bill would protect public health by prohibiting the use of
restricted substances in menstrual products.
 
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
 
This is a new bill.
 
 
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
 
None noted.
 
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that sections
one and two of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the
same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2025 amending the general busi-
ness law relating to the restriction of certain substances in menstrual
products, as proposed in legislative bills numbers 5. 1548 and A. 1502,
takes effect.

A09503 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          9503
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                     January 8, 2026
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ROSENTHAL  --  read once and referred to the
          Committee on Health
 
        AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to the restriction
          of certain substances in menstrual products; and to amend a chapter of
          the laws of 2025 amending the general business  law  relating  to  the
          restriction  of  certain substances in menstrual products, as proposed
          in legislative bills numbers S. 1548 and A. 1502, in relation  to  the
          effectiveness thereof
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1.  Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 399-aaaa of  the
     2  general business law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2025 amending
     3  the  general  business  law  relating  to  the  restriction  of  certain
     4  substances in menstrual  products,  as  proposed  in  legislative  bills
     5  numbers S. 1548 and A. 1502, is amended to read as follows:
     6    (c)  "restricted  substance" shall mean [an unsafe chemical for inclu-
     7  sion in menstrual products as determined by the commissioner of  health,
     8  which  shall  include, but not be limited to,] lead, mercury and related
     9  compounds, formaldehyde, triclosan, toluene,  talc,  dibutyl  phthalate,
    10  [di(2)exylhexyl]   di(2-ethylhexyl)   phthalate,   2-(4-Tertbutylbenzyl)
    11  propionaldehyde (also known as butylphenyl methylpropional  [and  isobu-
    12  tyl-,  isopropyl-,  butyl-,]), isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, butyl-
    13  paraben,   propylparaben,   and   perfluoroalkyl   and   polyfluoroalkyl
    14  substances;
    15    § 2. Subdivision 4 of section 399-aaaa of the general business law, as
    16  added by a chapter of the laws of 2025 amending the general business law
    17  relating to the restriction of certain substances in menstrual products,
    18  as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 1548 and A. 1502, is amended
    19  to read as follows:
    20    4. No menstrual products distributed, sold or offered for sale in this
    21  state,  whether  at  retail  or wholesale, for personal, professional or
    22  commercial use, or distributed for promotional purposes, shall contain[:
    23    (a) as of the effective date,] a restricted substance  present  as  an
    24  intentionally added ingredient at any level[; or

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD04698-02-6
        A. 9503                             2

     1    (b)  as  of  two years after thresholds are established in regulation,
     2  but no later than January first, two thousand twenty-nine, a  restricted
     3  substance  at or above a level that the department of health, in consul-
     4  tation with the department of environmental conservation,  shall  estab-
     5  lish  in  regulation  that  is  the  lowest  level  that can feasibly be
     6  achieved; provided, however, that the department of health  and  depart-
     7  ment  of  environmental  conservation shall review such level every five
     8  years to determine whether it should be  lowered.  The  commissioner  of
     9  health  shall  promulgate regulations establishing these levels no later
    10  than a year after the effective date of this section].
    11    § 3. Section 3 of a chapter of the laws of 2025 amending  the  general
    12  business  law  relating  to  the  restriction  of  certain substances in
    13  menstrual products, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 1548 and
    14  A. 1502, is amended to read as follows:
    15    § 3. This act shall take effect twelve  months  after  it  shall  have
    16  become  a  law.  [Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or
    17  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary  for  the  implementation  of
    18  this  act  on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
    19  on or before such effective date.]
    20    § 4. This act shall take effect immediately; provided,  however,  that
    21  sections  one and two of this act shall take effect on the same date and
    22  in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2025 amending the general
    23  business law relating  to  the  restriction  of  certain  substances  in
    24  menstrual products, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 1548 and
    25  A. 1502, takes effect.

A09503 Chamber Video/Transcript: