Toxic chemicals known as flame-retardants were first added to many consumer products decades ago to try and slow accidental fires. Recent research has discovered that some flame-retardant chemicals do not effectively slow accidental fires, and are known to be toxic after accumulating in humans and the environment – particularly causing harm to firefighters.
HF 359 expanded the list of household products prohibited from containing organohalogenated flame retardant chemicals to include mattresses and other residential textiles. Some household products and children’s products were already prohibited from containing these toxic chemicals based on previous legislation. HF359 also directed the Commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to coordinate enforcement of the prohibition with the Commissioners of the Minnesota Department of Commerce and Minnesota Department of Health.
Both the Minnesota House and the Senate passed identical versions of HF 359, and on May 22, 2019 Governor Walz signed the bill into law.
What Would Happen?
A “Yes” vote on HF 359 would add more items like mattresses to the list of products that are forbidden from containing harmful flame-retardant chemicals.
A “No” vote on HF 359 would not add additional household items to the list of products that are forbidden from containing harmful flame-retardant chemicals.
How The Senate Voted
A “Yes” vote on HF 359 would add more items like mattresses to the list of products that are forbidden from containing harmful flame-retardant chemicals.
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