CA Legislative Update
Menstrual Product and Cosmetics labeling bills signed into law!
A Voice for Choice Advocacy is excited to share that this week Governor Newsom signed our bill, which Asm Cristina Garcia authored for us, AB 1989: the Menstrual Right to Know Act, into law. This law will require ingredients on all menstrual products to be labeled, starting in 2023. In Garcia’s words, “If we are using these products, we should know what we’re putting in our bodies. If it’s a tampon, pad, a cup, Thinx underwear, no matter the product, I want you to have the best information out there.” While this labeling is now only required in California and New York (law passed in 2018), manufacturers are unlikely to create separate products for the rest of the country and therefore the passing of AB 1989 will result in nationwide labeling. The law passed through the Assembly and the Senate without any legislative opposition.
We are thankful to the work of Asm Cristina Garcia and her team to ensure that our bill made it all the way there. While more limited than we hoped due to COVID-19, this bill allowed our team and lobbyists to have conversations with legislators and staff about informed choice and transparency of what goes into our bodies. It also showed them that AVFCA is a professional organization, respected in the Capitol for our advocacy, and highlighting that we will be present and hold our legislators accountable. #NotGoingAway.
AVFCA needs you to continue to build your relationship with your Senator and Assembly member, so in the future we may be able to get support on other important legislation. Please take a moment to thank your legislators and the Governor for supporting informed choice and transparency of what goes into your body, by clicking here and sending them an email:
https://secure.everyaction.com/5-RxOa7QqUuTUhf8Ov7yIA2
It won't take more than a minute!
Historically, between 900-1,200 bills are sent to the Governor's Desk each year in California. With the abbreviated legislative session only 428 bills made it to his desk. The Governor also signed AB2762 (Muratsuchi) and SB 312 (Leyva), which AVFCA supported, that would require labeling of additional chemicals, including fragrances and flavors. While he signed many other bills, one other to note, which we opposed, was AB 1710 (Wood), which expanded the scope of pharmacists so that they can administer a COVID-19 vaccine, even under Emergency Authorization Use in CA.
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