New York Assembly Bill A06886

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/18/25
• Refer: 3/18/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Establishes a program to provide information to consumers concerning household hazardous products; provides such information be available at the point of retail sale by labels and pamphlets; provides such information should disclose hazards and inform people of environmentally safer alternatives; provides for the establishment of a hazardous product list by the department of environmental conservation.

Summary

A06886 would create a new household hazardous products consumer information program within the Environmental Conservation Law. The Department of Environmental Conservation, to the extent funds are available, would work with retailers and manufacturers to develop shelf labels and consumer pamphlets for certain household products identified as hazardous. The materials would explain the toxicity of the products, safer disposal methods, and environmentally safer alternatives. The bill requires retail establishments to display the labels and pamphlets on shelves or in the immediate vicinity of the listed products within one year after the law takes effect. The initial list includes a wide range of common consumer items such as motor oil, antifreeze, paints, solvents, drain cleaners, pesticides, lead-acid batteries, swimming pool chemicals, adhesives, aerosols, and related products. The department would also have authority to add or remove products by regulation and to exempt products that do not contain hazardous chemicals above a specified concentration threshold.

Impact

The bill would amend the Environmental Conservation Law by adding a new title governing household hazardous products and consumer information. It would not ban the listed products, but it would impose a new state-level disclosure and labeling framework for retailers and create an administrative role for DEC to maintain the product list, issue labels, and provide consumer-facing educational materials. Retailers selling the covered products would need to post the required information, and manufacturers could seek exemptions for products that do not meet the hazardous-chemical threshold.

Sentiment

The available context suggests generally favorable or at least precautionary support for the bill’s consumer-protection and environmental-safety goals. The measure is framed as an information and labeling program rather than a restriction on sales, which may make it more broadly acceptable to retailers and manufacturers than a ban or tax. No votes or committee transcript are available, so there is no recorded opposition or formal debate in the provided materials.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are likely to be implementation costs, retailer compliance burdens, and the scope of products covered. Because the program depends on available funding and requires retailers to display labels and pamphlets, businesses may be concerned about administrative burden and shelf-space requirements. Manufacturers may also object to being included on the hazardous-product list or may seek exemptions, while environmental and consumer advocates would likely favor broad coverage and clear warnings about toxicity and safer alternatives.