BILL NUMBER: S1280B
SPONSOR: KRUEGER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to labeling
requirements for gas stoves
 
PURPOSE:
To promote public health, support informed consumer choice, and create
consistent public policy ,by requiring labeling and signage regarding
the health impacts of gas stoves.
 
SUMMARY:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"Healthy Homes Right To Know Act"
Section 2. Legislative findings.
Section 3. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
322-d.
Section 4. Sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The Healthy Homes Right to Know Act will continue New York's long histo-
ry of informing consumers about potential hazards associated with
products they may purchase. The public is largely unaware of the health
dangers posed by unvented gas appliances. While New York State met this
challenge by requiring labeling of unvented gas heaters, there are crit-
ical public health concerns to also require the labeling of gas stoves.
The compelling need for labeling of stoves, combined with undertaking a
broad public education about these public health impacts, was high-
lighted in a 2023 letter from 10 state attorneys general including the
attorney general of New York and the New York City Corporation Counsel,
calling for gas stove labeling.
Scientific understanding of the associative health risks of using a gas
stove are compelling. The science shows that gas stoves emit carbon
monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, benzene and formaldehyde. We know that these
emissions are associated with carbon monoxide poisoning, respiratory
illnesses including asthma, exacerbation of COPD and cardiovascular
disease, cancer, and hematological issues. "Natural gas" emissions can
also occur, even when the stoves are turned off.
These health effects can be felt across the state, but do not affect all
communities equally. Communities of color and lower wealth communities
carry a demonstrable, disproportionate burden. This disproportionate
burden is borne out in studies. by the New York State Department of
Health, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the
US Environmental Protection Agency, as well as advocacy groups like We
Act for Environmental Justice and the NAACP.
Concerning asthma, the Legislature in memorializing resolution J78 in
2023, declared that the Legislature, "supports the increase in public
awareness regarding asthma and allergies; it is important to help
educate all citizens of the State of New York of the serious and poten-
tially life-threatening nature of asthma and allergies..."
The Healthy Homes Right To Know Act will help fill the gap in consumer
understanding by requiring labeling to alert the public of the emissions
of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, benzene and formaldehyde, thereby
promoting public health, supporting informed customer choice, and creat-
ing consistent public policy.
 
RACIAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
According to data from the New York Times, Black Americans are exposed
to more pollution from all sources than any other group. People of color
more broadly are exposed to more pollution than their white counterparts
(1).
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.9105b/A 9572-B(Solages) - Referred to Consumer Protection
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
(1) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/28/climate/air-pollution- minori-
ties.html