New Jersey A 2244: Bans carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, flame resistant chemicals, and volatile organic compounds from certain hair products.

Bill Text

A2244 

ASSEMBLY, No. 2244 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

Assemblywoman CARMEN THERESA MORALES

District 34 (Essex)

SYNOPSIS

���� Bans carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, flame 
resistant chemicals, and volatile organic compounds from certain hair products.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act banning certain substances from hair products and 
supplementing P.L.1960, c.39. 

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� As used in this 
section: 

���� �Carcinogen� means any 
chemical identified as follows:

���� (1)�� �Group 1 carcinogen� or 
�group 2A carcinogen� by the World Health Organization or the International 
Agency for Research on Cancer;

���� (2)�� �Known to be a human 
carcinogen� and �reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen� by the 
Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, 
pursuant to paragraph 4 of subsection (b) of the �Public Health Service Act� 
(42 U.S.C. s.241); or

���� (3)�� �Group A carcinogens� or 
�group B carcinogens� by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

���� �Chemical� means a substance 
with a distinct molecular composition or a group of structurally related 
substances and includes the breakdown products of the substance or substances 
that form through decomposition, degradation, or metabolism.

���� �Hair product� means a product 
made through the synthesis of artificial materials such as polyester, nylon, 
acrylic, or cellulose to create fibers that undergo various processes to 
resemble human hair.

���� �Reproductive toxicant� means 
a chemical identified as a reproductive or developmental toxicant by the United 
States Department of Health and Human Services, National Toxicology Program, 
Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction.

���� �Volatile organic compound� 
means the same as that term is defined by section 2 of P.L.1995, c.188 
(C.26:2C-2).

���� b.��� It shall be an unlawful 
practice and a violation of P.L.1960, c.39 for any person to manufacture, sell, 
distribute, or offer for sale in this State a hair product that emits volatile 
organic compounds when used as intended, or contains an intentionally added 
carcinogen, reproductive toxicant, or flame resistant chemical.

���� 2.��� This act shall take 
effect on the first day of the thirteenth month after enactment except that the 
Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs may take any anticipatory 
administrative action as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of this 
act. 

STATEMENT

���� This bill bans certain 
materials from being intentionally added to hair products manufactured, sold, 
or distributed in this State.

���� The bill defines hair product 
to mean a product made through the synthesis of artificial materials such as 
polyester, nylon, acrylic, or cellulose to create fibers that undergo various 
processes to resemble human hair.� 

���� Under the bill, carcinogens, 
reproductive toxicants, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and flame resistant 
chemicals are prohibited from being intentionally added to hair products.� The 
bill defines a carcinogen as a chemical identified by the World Health 
Organization as a �Group 1 carcinogen� or �group 2A carcinogen�; a chemical 
identified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as �known to be 
a human carcinogen� and �reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen�; or a 
chemical recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency as �group A 
carcinogens� or �group B carcinogens.�� The bill also defines reproductive 
toxicant to mean any chemical identified by the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services as a reproductive or developmental toxicant. 

���� The bill provides that it is 
an unlawful practice and a violation of the consumer fraud act for any person 
to manufacture, sell, distribute, or offer for sale in this State a hair 
product that emits VOCs when used as intended, or contains an intentionally 
added carcinogen, reproductive toxicant, or flame resistant chemical.� A 
violation of the bill�s provisions is punishable by a 
monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than 
$20,000 for any subsequent offense.� In addition, a violation can result in 
cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive 
damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured.