Esther’s Law

This bill bans certain water beads products as hazardous and requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to set safety standards for other water beads products. It defines key terms and sets deadlines for implementation.

Sec. 2, Definitions: Defines terms used in the bill, including 'water beads product' as a consumer product made partly of water-absorbing polymers that can fit into a small cylinder and expand significantly when wet. Also defines 'art material,' 'educational material,' 'sensory stimulation material,' and 'toy' by referencing existing laws and standards.

Sec. 3, Certain water beads products considered banned hazardous products: Starting 180 days after enactment, any water beads product designed, intended, or marketed as a toy, educational material, art material, or sensory stimulation tool is considered a banned hazardous product under the Consumer Product Safety Act, regardless of when it was made or imported.

Sec. 4, Regulation of water bead products not designed, intended, or marketed as toys, educational materials, art materials, or sensory tools: Within 24 months, the Commission must issue a final safety standard for water beads products not banned under section 3. The standard may include color requirements to deter children and must include warning labels on packaging and literature about ingestion risks, keeping products away from children, and seeking medical care. The Commission can later modify the standard. This section does not apply to water beads used commercially in diapers, personal care products, sanitary products, or agricultural supplies.