SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay), announced the introduction of Assembly Bill 1744, the Reef Safe Truth in Marketing Act, to strengthen consumer protections and protect California's marine ecosystems by targeting misleading environmental claims on sunscreen products.
AB 1744 sponsored by The McClatchy High School Eco Club, would make it unlawful to advertise or label a sunscreen product sold in California as "reef safe', "ocean safe", or any similar term implying environmental safety unless the product contains no chemical ultraviolet filters know to harm marine life.
"At a time when everyday products are already costly, the last thing consumers need is to be misled by environmental claims that don't hold up," said Addis "If a product is advertised as protecting our environment, it must actually do so. The Reef Safe Truth Act provides clarity for consumers and holds manufacturers accountable. Californians deserve accurate information when purchasing goods.
"There's clear scientific evidence that chemicals in sunscreen damage reefs and harm marine life, yet companies still use 'reef safe' as a marketing claim on products containing those same chemicals," said Macaela Spencer, a local high school student who brought the idea to the Legislature and is leading efforts through her school's Eco Club. "Instead of just learning about the problem, we wanted to take action to prevent companies from greenwashing sunscreen. We are incredibly thankful to Assemblymember Addis for authoring this legislation to close this loophole and protect both consumers and marine ecosystems."
AB 1744 awaits committee assignment.
Dawn Addis was elected to the California State Assembly in 2022 to represent the coastal 30th Assembly District, which includes San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Cruz Counties. She is the Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee 1 on Health.
CONTACT: Alexis Garcia-Arrazola, (831) 649-2832