S 1281 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain apparel and diaper products containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.*

This New Jersey bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, and distribution of apparel containing intentionally added PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) starting two years after it takes effect. It defines "apparel" broadly to include most clothing for regular wear - such as athletic wear, swimwear, school uniforms, and work uniforms - but excludes personal protective equipment, military clothing, and motorcycle safety gear. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud under state law, resulting in fines up to $20,000 per offense and potential additional penalties like cease-and-desist orders. The law directly affects retailers, manufacturers, and distributors of apparel within New Jersey that use PFAS in their products.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

General Assembly Passage

Jun 2026

Signed into Law

Aug 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Aug 27, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Senate Committee Substitute → Reprint Of Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill expands its scope to cover diaper products in addition to apparel, adding a new definition for 'diaper product' (disposable or reusable absorbent products worn to contain human waste, excluding menstrual products). Diapers are removed from the existing 'apparel' definition since they now have their own category. A statutory citation for penalties was also corrected from C.56:3-63 to C.56:3-62.

Scope change

The bill's scope expands from covering only apparel to also covering diaper products (disposable or reusable absorbent products worn to contain human waste), while excluding menstrual products from the new category.

SCOPE

Diaper products are now explicitly covered by the ban on PFAS-containing products, alongside apparel. The prohibition in section 1(a) now reads 'any apparel or a diaper product containing intentionally added PFAS.'

DEFINITION

A new definition for 'diaper product' is added: an absorbent product, either disposable or reusable, manufactured to be worn to contain human waste. The term explicitly excludes menstrual products as defined in P.L.2025, c.232 (C.56:3-52.1).

'Diapers' are removed from the list of items included in the definition of 'apparel,' since they are now covered under the separate 'diaper product' category.

ENFORCEMENT

The statutory citation for penalties was corrected from C.56:3-63 to C.56:3-62, pointing to the correct section of P.L.2025, c.202 that provides remedies and penalties.

TECHNICAL

Version label updated to 'First Reprint' and the current version text note updated to reflect reporting by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee on June 4, 2026, with amendments.

Introduced → Senate Committee Substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

The Senate Committee Substitute restructures S1281 from a standalone PFAS apparel ban into an amendment of the existing PFAS law (P.L.2025, c.202). The most significant substantive changes are: enforcement is shifted from the consumer fraud act to the PFAS law's own penalty provisions, the compliance deadline is now tied to a separate pending bill rather than this bill's effective date, and the definitions section is greatly expanded with new terms (carpet, cookware, cosmetic, food packaging, etc.) and a more detailed standalone definition of 'intentionally added PFAS' that includes degradation byproducts and an exception for technically unavoidable trace quantities.

Scope change

The bill's scope as a standalone measure is reduced; it is now integrated into the existing P.L.2025, c.202 PFAS framework. However, the definitions section of that framework is significantly expanded with new product categories (carpet, cookware, cosmetics, food packaging), suggesting the overall regulatory scope of the PFAS law is broadening beyond just apparel.

ENFORCEMENT

Violations are no longer treated as unlawful practices under the consumer fraud act (P.L.1960, c.39). Instead, they are now violations of P.L.2025, c.202 itself, subject to penalties under section 10 of that law (C.56:3-63). This changes which agency enforces and what remedies are available.

A new section 16 amendment grants rulemaking authority to both the Department of Environmental Protection (for sections 12-14 of P.L.2025, c.202) and the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety (for sections 1-11 of that law and this bill).

TIMELINE

The two-year compliance deadline is no longer tied to this bill's effective date. It is now tied to the effective date of a separate pending bill (P.L.___, c.___), meaning the actual start date depends on when that other bill takes effect.

DEFINITION

'Intentionally added PFAS' is no longer defined by cross-reference to P.L.2023, c.243. It now has a standalone definition that explicitly includes degradation byproducts of PFAS and adds an exception for technically unavoidable trace quantities from impurities, manufacturing processes, storage, or packaging migration.

'PFAS' is no longer defined by cross-reference to P.L.2023, c.243. It now has a standalone definition: 'substances that include any member of the class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.'

Multiple new definitions are added to Section 3 of P.L.2025, c.202: carpet, cookware, cosmetic, Division (of Consumer Affairs), fabric treatment, food packaging, internal component, manufacturer, product, product component, and product label. These suggest the broader PFAS law is being expanded beyond apparel.

SCOPE

The bill is restructured from a standalone act into an amendment of P.L.2025, c.202. The apparel prohibition becomes section 1 of the amended law rather than a free-standing provision, integrating it into the broader PFAS regulatory framework.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (39-0)

upper

Jun 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed by the Assembly (59-16-2)

lower

Jun 28, 2026

Committee

Recommitted to Assembly Budget Committee

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by the Senate (38-0)

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee

upper

3 primary · 4 co-sponsors