New York Senate Bill S03041

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/25
• Refer: 1/23/25

Caption

Prohibits the distribution and use of paper containing bisphenol A for the recording of any business transaction.

Summary

This bill would amend New York’s Environmental Conservation Law to prohibit the distribution or use of business transaction paper containing bisphenol A (BPA). The ban would apply to paper used for receipts, credits, withdrawals, deposits, and credit or debit card records, and would cover businesses, financial institutions, and paper manufacturers. It is aimed at reducing consumer and worker exposure to BPA through thermal paper and similar transaction documents. The bill also creates a regulatory framework for replacement chemicals. Paper manufacturers would be barred from substituting BPA with chemicals that are known human carcinogens, developmental toxins, endocrine disruptors, or reproductive toxins, and would be required to use the least toxic alternative available. Manufacturers would have to provide information on replacement chemicals to the Department of Environmental Conservation, and could not manufacture the covered paper until the department certifies acceptable alternatives based on recommendations from an advisory committee.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would add a new section 37-0508 to the Environmental Conservation Law and impose new restrictions on the sale, distribution, and use of BPA-containing business transaction paper in New York. It would also require the Department of Environmental Conservation to certify safer substitute chemicals, update those certifications annually, publish relevant information publicly, and study safe disposal and recycling practices for BPA-containing paper. The measure would directly affect retailers, banks, payment processors, paper manufacturers, and any entity that issues receipts or other transaction records on paper.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no recorded debate or roll-call sentiment to summarize. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect a precautionary public-health and environmental approach, with a strong emphasis on reducing toxic exposure and ensuring safer chemical alternatives before implementation. The absence of recorded opposition or amendments in the provided materials means the overall sentiment cannot be assessed beyond the bill’s protective framing.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the feasibility and cost of replacing BPA in transaction paper, especially for paper manufacturers and businesses that rely on thermal receipts and similar documents. Another likely issue is the bill’s requirement that substitutes be certified as the least toxic alternative and not fall into several hazard categories, which could limit available replacement chemicals and delay compliance. The advisory committee’s independence requirements and the department’s ongoing certification duties may also raise questions about administrative burden and implementation timing.