Concerning increased transparency regarding chemicals used in the processing of certain hair products.
HB 26-1135 creates the “Hair Product Transparency and Safety Act” and is aimed at increasing disclosure about certain chemicals in hair relaxer products and synthetic hairpiece products sold in Colorado. Beginning July 1, 2027, manufacturers may not sell, offer for sale, or distribute covered hair products in the state if they contain an intentionally added carcinogen or reproductive toxicant unless the product includes a clear and conspicuous warning label, or an online warning statement for internet sales, informing consumers of the risk. The bill specifies the exact warning language that must be used depending on whether the product contains a carcinogen, a reproductive toxicant, or both.
The bill defines key terms such as “carcinogen,” “reproductive toxicant,” “intentionally added,” “incidental presence,” “manufacturer,” “hair relaxer product,” and “synthetic hairpiece product.” It also covers imported products by treating the importer or first domestic distributor as the manufacturer when the original manufacturer has no U.S. presence. Violations are treated as deceptive trade practices under Colorado law and may result in civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. The act applies to conduct occurring on or after its effective date and includes a safety clause.
The bill’s impact is to add a new consumer-protection and product-labeling requirement to Colorado law, specifically within the public health and deceptive trade practices statutes. It creates a new section in Title 25 and amends the deceptive trade practices statute in Title 6 so that noncompliance is enforceable as an unfair or deceptive business practice. The practical effect is to place compliance obligations on manufacturers, importers, and first domestic distributors of certain hair products sold in Colorado, including online sellers.
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is strongly supportive of consumer transparency and public health protection. The legislative declaration emphasizes informed consumer choice, hidden health risks, and the disproportionate marketing and use of these products in communities that have historically faced elevated exposure to harmful chemicals and related health disparities. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no additional recorded debate or opposition to characterize.
Because no committee discussion or voting history is included, there are no specific points of contention documented in the available materials. Based on the bill’s structure, likely areas of concern could include the scope of the warning requirement, the chemical thresholds used to define “intentionally added,” and compliance burdens for manufacturers and distributors, but those issues are not expressly raised in the provided record.
The bill adds a new statutory section, C.R.S. 25-5-429, establishing labeling and disclosure requirements for hair relaxer products and synthetic hairpiece products that contain intentionally added carcinogens or reproductive toxicants. It also amends C.R.S. 6-1-105 to make violations of the new section a deceptive trade practice, exposing violators to civil enforcement and penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. The law applies to manufacturers and, in some cases, importers or first domestic distributors, including sales made through internet transactions.
The bill’s stated purpose and legislative declaration reflect a pro-consumer, public-health-oriented approach focused on transparency, informed choice, and reducing exposure to harmful chemicals. The available record shows no committee transcript or vote data, so there is no documented opposition or divided sentiment in the materials provided. On its face, the bill appears to have been framed as a consumer safety measure rather than a punitive regulation.
No specific contention is documented in the provided committee or voting materials. The text itself suggests the main policy issues are whether warning labels should be required for certain hair products, how broadly to define covered products and chemicals, and how to balance consumer disclosure with manufacturer compliance burdens. Potentially affected parties include hair product manufacturers, importers, first domestic distributors, retailers, and consumers who use hair relaxers or synthetic hairpieces.