SACRAMENTO, California — A California lawmaker whose bill to rid menstrual products of a toxic chemical class was vetoed last year is back with a new proposal that she says addresses Gov. Gavin Newsom’s concerns.
Assemblymember Diane Papan, a Democrat from San Mateo, held a press conference Monday to promote A.B. 2515, which would prohibit the manufacture, distribution or sale of menstrual products that contain intentionally added PFAS by 2025 and assess alternative chemicals that could replace them by 2027.
The new bill maintains its predecessor’s timeline and the previous bill’s civil penalty for violations. The main change is granting regulatory oversight to the Department of Toxic Substances Control and allowing consumers to sue over alleged harms from menstrual products that intentionally contain the chemical.
Papan said she incorporated the Department of Toxic Substances into the new bill per the Democratic governor’s request. “We think we’ve addressed those concerns,” she said at a Monday press conference.
