Requires washing machines sold after a certain date to contain a microfiber filtration system that meets certain specifications.
Summary
A04716, the “washing machine microfiber filter act,” would require all new washing machines offered for sale in New York on or after January 1, 2026 to include a microfiber filtration system. The filter must be either built into the machine or sold and installed as an in-line filter, and it must have a mesh size of no greater than 100 micrometers. The bill also requires a conspicuous consumer label warning users that the machine contains a filter to capture microfibers and instructing them to check the filter regularly and dispose of captured lint in a waste bin.
The bill further requires manufacturers to provide a certificate of compliance to sellers and distributors confirming that the machine meets the filtration requirement. Retailers and distributors are protected from liability if they are not the manufacturer and rely in good faith on the manufacturer’s certificate. Enforcement authority is given to the attorney general, city attorneys, county counsel, and district attorneys, with civil penalties of up to $10,000 for a first violation and up to $30,000 for each subsequent violation. The act would take effect immediately, though the sales and labeling requirements begin on January 1, 2026.
Impact
The bill would amend the General Business Law by adding a new section regulating the sale of washing machines in New York. It would impose product-design and labeling requirements on manufacturers, create a compliance-certification process for the supply chain, and authorize state and local prosecutors to seek civil penalties for violations. The practical effect would be to shift responsibility primarily to manufacturers while giving retailers and distributors a safe harbor when they rely on manufacturer certifications in good faith.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill, with the measure advancing through the Assembly Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee, the Codes Committee, and the Rules Committee before receiving final passage on the Assembly floor by a substantial margin. The pattern of votes indicates broad support, though not unanimity, suggesting some members had reservations even as the bill moved forward decisively.
Contention
The main points of contention likely center on the cost and feasibility of requiring microfiber filtration in all new washing machines, including potential manufacturing changes, added consumer costs, and implementation burdens for retailers and distributors. Supporters appear to favor the measure as an environmental and pollution-reduction policy aimed at limiting microfiber release into waterways, while opponents may question whether the mandate is practical, whether the filtration standard is sufficiently clear, and whether the compliance and enforcement structure places undue burdens on industry.