This bill amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by adding a new subpart focused on the regulation of plastic microbeads. It defines key terms such as "air care product," "cleaning product," "personal care product," and "plastic microbead," establishing a framework for the prohibition of these microbeads in consumer products. Specifically, starting January 1, 2026, the manufacture, sale, or distribution of materials containing plastic microbeads will be banned, with a further prohibition on personal care and cleaning products containing these microbeads beginning January 1, 2027, unless the concentration is below 1 part per million by weight.

The bill also outlines penalties for violations, allowing for civil fines of up to $2,000 per day for non-compliance, which can be enforced by county prosecutors or the attorney general. Additionally, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is tasked with administering and enforcing these regulations, providing public access to information about the prohibitions, and reporting annually on enforcement and progress towards the goals of the legislation. The department is also authorized to promulgate rules to implement this subpart under the administrative procedures act.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 324.101, 324.90106