Environmental advertising: sunscreen.

AB 1744

California Bills

20250AB__174497AMD INTRODUCED 2026-02-05 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-03-03 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-04-09 2025 AB AMD Introduced by Assembly Members Addis and Hart LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Addis LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hart

An act to add

Section 17580.7 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to environmental advertising. environmental advertising Environmental advertising: sunscreen. Under existing law, it is unlawful for any person to make any untruthful, deceptive, or misleading environmental marketing claim, whether explicit or implied. A violation of this requirement is a misdemeanor.

This bill would make it unlawful for a person to represent in advertising or on the label or container of any sunscreen product, as specified, sold in the state, that the product is “reef safe,” “reef friendly,” “ocean safe,” “marine safe,” “ocean friendly,” “marine conscious,” “reef conscious,” or a similar term or phrase likely to cause a reasonable consumer to believe that the product does not harm marine ecosystems unless the product is free of chemical ultraviolet filters, as specified. A violation of the bill would be a misdemeanor.

By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. MAJORITY NO YES YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Section 17580.7 is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 17580.7. (

a) It is unlawful for a person to represent in advertising or on the label or container of any sunscreen product sold in the state that the product is “reef safe,” “reef friendly,” “ocean safe,” “marine safe,” “ocean friendly,” “marine conscious,” “reef conscious,” or a similar term or phrase likely to cause a reasonable consumer to believe that the product does not harm marine ecosystems unless the product does not contain any chemical ultraviolet filters, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Avobenzone (CAS 70356-09-1).

(2) Homosalate (CAS 118-56-9).

(3) Octinoxate (CAS 5466-77-3).

(4) Octisalate (CAS 118-60-5).

(5) Octocrylene (CAS 6197-30-4).

(6) Oxybenzone (CAS 131-57-7). (

b) For purposes of this section, “sunscreen product” includes any over-the-counter drug regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration that is intended to protect users from ultraviolet radiation, including, but not limited to, lotions, sprays, sticks, gels, and solids. (

c) Nothing in this

section shall imply a person is exempt from the requirements of

Section or 17580.5 related to substantiation of environmental marketing claims.

SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to

Section of

Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of

Section of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of

Section of

Article XIII B of the California Constitution.

Document details

CollectionCalifornia Bills
CitationAB 1744
Date2026-04-09
Typebill
Languageen
SourceCA_BILL
Identifier20250AB174497AMD

Environmental advertising: sunscreen.

AB 1744

California Bills

Environmental advertising: sunscreen.

AB 1744

California Bills

20250AB__174497AMD INTRODUCED 2026-02-05 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-03-03 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-04-09 2025 AB AMD Introduced by Assembly Members Addis and Hart LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Addis LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hart

An act to add

Section 17580.7 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to environmental advertising. environmental advertising Environmental advertising: sunscreen. Under existing law, it is unlawful for any person to make any untruthful, deceptive, or misleading environmental marketing claim, whether explicit or implied. A violation of this requirement is a misdemeanor.

This bill would make it unlawful for a person to represent in advertising or on the label or container of any sunscreen product, as specified, sold in the state, that the product is “reef safe,” “reef friendly,” “ocean safe,” “marine safe,” “ocean friendly,” “marine conscious,” “reef conscious,” or a similar term or phrase likely to cause a reasonable consumer to believe that the product does not harm marine ecosystems unless the product is free of chemical ultraviolet filters, as specified. A violation of the bill would be a misdemeanor.

By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. MAJORITY NO YES YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Section 17580.7 is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 17580.7. (

a) It is unlawful for a person to represent in advertising or on the label or container of any sunscreen product sold in the state that the product is “reef safe,” “reef friendly,” “ocean safe,” “marine safe,” “ocean friendly,” “marine conscious,” “reef conscious,” or a similar term or phrase likely to cause a reasonable consumer to believe that the product does not harm marine ecosystems unless the product does not contain any chemical ultraviolet filters, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Avobenzone (CAS 70356-09-1).

(2) Homosalate (CAS 118-56-9).

(3) Octinoxate (CAS 5466-77-3).

(4) Octisalate (CAS 118-60-5).

(5) Octocrylene (CAS 6197-30-4).

(6) Oxybenzone (CAS 131-57-7). (

b) For purposes of this section, “sunscreen product” includes any over-the-counter drug regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration that is intended to protect users from ultraviolet radiation, including, but not limited to, lotions, sprays, sticks, gels, and solids. (

c) Nothing in this

section shall imply a person is exempt from the requirements of

Section or 17580.5 related to substantiation of environmental marketing claims.

SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to

Section of

Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of

Section of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of

Section of

Article XIII B of the California Constitution.

Document details

CollectionCalifornia Bills
CitationAB 1744
Date2026-04-09
Typebill
Languageen
SourceCA_BILL
Identifier20250AB174497AMD