S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4716--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 5, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. KELLES -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on  Consumer  Affairs  and  Protection  --  committee discharged, bill
   amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
   tee
 
 AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring wash-
   ing machines to meet certain filtration system requirements
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the  "washing
 machine microfiber filter act".
   §  2. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 396-
 uu to read as follows:
   § 396-UU. SALE OF WASHING MACHINES.  1. DEFINITIONS. AS USED  IN  THIS
 SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   A.  "MICROFIBER  FILTRATION  SYSTEM"  MEANS  A FILTRATION UNIT THAT IS
 ACTIVE ACROSS ALL WASHING CYCLES AND MEETS EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING:
   (I) THE UNIT IS INTEGRATED INTO THE WASHING MACHINE DESIGN AS A BUILT-
 IN FILTER; OR
   (II) THE UNIT IS INCLUDED AS AN IN-LINE FILTER AND IS PACKAGED,  SOLD,
 AND INSTALLED WITH THE WASHING MACHINE; AND
   B.  "WASHING  MACHINE"  MEANS  A MACHINE DESIGNED AND USED FOR WASHING
 CLOTHES AND LINEN.
   2. A.  ON AND AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND  TWENTY-SIX,  ALL  NEW
 WASHING  MACHINES OFFERED FOR SALE IN THE STATE SHALL CONTAIN A BUILT-IN
 OR IN-LINE MICROFIBER FILTRATION SYSTEM WITH A MESH SIZE OF NOT  GREATER
 THAN ONE HUNDRED MICROMETERS.
   B.  ALL  WASHING MACHINES SOLD IN THE STATE ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST,
 TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX SHALL BEAR A CONSPICUOUS LABEL THAT  IS  VISIBLE
 TO  THE CONSUMER, IN THE FORM OF A STICKER OR ANY OTHER LABEL TYPE, THAT
 INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: "NOTICE: THIS WASHING MACHINE CONTAINS
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08159-02-5
 A. 4716--A                          2
              

 
 A FILTER TO CAPTURE MICROFIBERS. CHECK THE FILTER REGULARLY AND  DISPOSE
 OF CAPTURED LINT IN A WASTE BIN."
   3.  A.  A  MANUFACTURER  OF  A  WASHING MACHINE THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE
 REQUIREMENTS OF SUBDIVISION TWO  OF  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  PROVIDE  EACH
 PERSON  THAT OFFERS SUCH WASHING MACHINE FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE
 STATE WITH A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE STATING THAT THE WASHING  MACHINE
 IS  IN  COMPLIANCE  WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION AND CONTAINS A
 MICROFIBER FILTRATION  SYSTEM.  A  CERTIFICATE  OF  COMPLIANCE  PROVIDED
 PURSUANT  TO  THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE SIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL
 OF THE MANUFACTURER. THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE MAY BE PROVIDED ELEC-
 TRONICALLY.
   B. A DISTRIBUTOR OR RETAILER OF A WASHING MACHINE THAT IS  SUBJECT  TO
 THE  REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE HELD IN VIOLATION OF THIS
 SECTION IF THE DISTRIBUTOR OR RETAILER IS NOT ALSO THE  MANUFACTURER  OF
 THE  WASHING  MACHINE  AND  RELIED  IN  GOOD FAITH ON THE CERTIFICATE OF
 COMPLIANCE PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH A OF  THIS
 SUBDIVISION.
   4.  UPON AN ACTION BROUGHT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, A CITY ATTORNEY, A
 COUNTY COUNSEL, OR A DISTRICT ATTORNEY, A PERSON OR ENTITY THAT VIOLATES
 THIS SECTION SHALL BE LIABLE FOR A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED TEN THOU-
 SAND DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST VIOLATION, AND NOT TO EXCEED THIRTY  THOUSAND
 DOLLARS FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.