SF 1481 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pollution Control Agency notice to retailers that selling skin lightening products that contain mercury is illegal requirement, self-certification of businesses that receive notice requirement, and penalties on businesses who fail to self-certify provision

This bill requires retailers in Minnesota to display multilingual signs by August 1, 2026, warning customers that selling skin-lightening products containing mercury is illegal and may cause health harm. The signs must be visible at all retail locations where such products are sold and must include text in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, French, Ethiopian, and Oromo. The Pollution Control Agency and Health Commissioner will develop the sign content with community input. This directly affects retailers selling skin-lightening products and aims to inform consumers about existing mercury-related restrictions.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2025 Last action Apr 1, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 4 edits · Mar 13, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift its focus from requiring retailers to display warning signs to requiring the Pollution Control Agency to send notices to retailers. This change replaces a public signage mandate with a system where businesses must self-certify receipt of the notice to avoid penalties, effectively changing the enforcement mechanism from visual warnings to administrative compliance.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a public-facing requirement for all retail locations to an administrative requirement for businesses receiving specific notices from the state agency.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the requirement for retailers to display physical warning signs with a requirement for the Pollution Control Agency to send notices to retailers.

Removed the mandate for the Pollution Control Agency and Health Commissioner to jointly develop multilingual signage in seven specific languages.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new requirement for businesses to self-certify on a prescribed form that they received the notice and will comply with the law.

Established a penalty provision for businesses that fail to self-certify, replacing the previous signage development mandate.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Environment, Climate, and Legacy

upper

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to Commerce and Consumer Protection

upper

Feb 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors