NY State Senate Bill 2025-S5605

Senate Bill S5605

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Requires all washing machines be sold with a microfiber filtration system and proper notice of such system

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Consumer Protection Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 25, 2025	referred to consumer protection

2025-S5605 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Consumer Protection
Law Section:: General Business Law
Laws Affected:: Add §395-c, Gen Bus L

2025-S5605 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires all washing machines be sold with a microfiber filtration system and proper notice of such system; provides that on and after January first, two thousand twenty-nine, a new washing machine shall not be sold or offered for sale in the state for residential, commercial, or state use unless the washing machine meets both of the following requirements: contains a microfiber filtration system with a mesh size of not greater than one hundred micrometers; and bears 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 a filter to capture microfibers. Check filter regularly and dispose of captured lint in a waste bin."; provides penalties.

2025-S5605 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5605

SPONSOR: KAVANAGH
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring all
washing machines be sold with a microfiber filtration system and proper
notice of such system

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would require all washing machines to be sold with a microfi-
ber filtration system and proper notice of such a system.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill amends the general business law to add a new
section 395-c. Subsection 1 defines the relevant terms. Subsection 2
outlines new requirements for washing machines to include a microfiber
filtration system. Subsection 3 outlines guidelines for manufacturers of
washing machines, distributors, and retailers.  Subsection 4 outlines
the civil penalty for violations of this section. Subsection 5 outlines

the general rights, actions, and defenses available for those subject to
this law.

Section two sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment, even in the most remote
areas. Due to their small size, they can bioaccumulate in the food chain
and cause increasing environmental concern. Studies have found micro-
plastics in humans' lungs, brains, and placentas and show that these
particles can cause oxidative damage, DNA damage, and changes in gene
activity.

Microfibers are the most common type of microplastics, according to the
EPA, and are found in several different ecosystems like wastewater,
stormwater runoff, rivers, lakes, wildlife, etc. Around 60% of clothing
is made entirely or in part by plastic, including polyester, nylon, and
acrylic. These synthetic textiles shed microfiber through daily wear and
also in washing. Scientists estimate that textiles produce 35% of ocean
microplastic pollution, an estimated 2.2 million tons annually. An aver-
age three-pound load of laundry can shed hundreds of thousands of micro-
fibers into the sewer system. Most treatment plants in the USA are
designed to reduce organic material in water and are not efficient in
removing fine synthetic particles like microplastics.

Filtration systems in washing machines are seen as an effective strategy
for capturing microfibers before they enter wastewater effluent and into
the environment. This bill would require all washing machines to be sold
with a built-in microfiber filtration system. Studies have shown that
microfiber filters can capture up to 78% of all microfibers. Other
states like California, Connecticut, and Oregon have created or passed
laws to address the growing concerns regarding microplastics, specif-
ically microfibers in washing machines. In 2020, France also mandated
that all new washing machines sold as of January 1, 2025, include a
filter to capture microfibers. New York State, through this proposed

bill, would be able to reduce the amount of microfibers floating through
our waterways and decrease environmental pollution.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S5605 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5605
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 25, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. KAVANAGH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
 
 AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to  requiring  all
   washing machines be sold with a microfiber filtration system and prop-
   er notice of such system

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
 395-c to read as follows:
   § 395-C. SALE OF  WASHING  MACHINES.  1.  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF  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  PACK-
 AGED, SOLD, AND INSTALLED WITH THE WASHING MACHINE; AND
   (B)  "WASHING  MACHINE"  MEANS A MACHINE DESIGNED AND USED FOR WASHING
 CLOTHES AND LINEN.
   2. ON AND AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-NINE, A NEW WASHING
 MACHINE SHALL NOT BE SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE IN THE STATE FOR  RESIDEN-
 TIAL,  COMMERCIAL, OR STATE USE UNLESS THE WASHING MACHINE MEETS BOTH OF
 THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
   (A) CONTAINS A MICROFIBER FILTRATION SYSTEM WITH A MESH  SIZE  OF  NOT
 GREATER THAN ONE HUNDRED MICROMETERS; AND
   (B)  BEARS 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 A FILTER TO CAPTURE
 MICROFIBERS. CHECK 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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08178-01-5

 S. 5605                             2
 
 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.
   5. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT IMPAIR OR IMPEDE ANY OTHER RIGHTS, CAUSES OF
 ACTION, CLAIMS, OR DEFENSES AVAILABLE UNDER ANY OTHER LAW. THE  REMEDIES
 PROVIDED  IN  THIS SECTION ARE CUMULATIVE WITH ANY OTHER REMEDIES AVAIL-
 ABLE UNDER ANY OTHER LAW.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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