Committee advances ‘Tyler’s Law’ to restrict retail sales of sodium nitrate

The House Consumer Protection & Business Committee on a bipartisan vote advanced substitute House Bill 1209, renaming the proposal "Tyler's Law" and recommending it pass out of committee. The bill would prohibit retail sale or transfer of products containing more than 10% sodium nitrate except to verified commercial businesses or institutions, require labeling and recordkeeping, and create civil penalties for violations.

Why it matters: Committee members who sponsored the amendment said the bill is intended to prevent easily purchased, highly concentrated sodium nitrate from being sold to the public online — a pathway that has been linked to recent youth suicides. Supporters cited testimony from family members and public-health advocates urging the Legislature to close an online sales gap.

Staff reported that the bill includes criminal and civil enforcement mechanisms and labeling requirements. Representative Reeves moved the bill out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. Representative Berry offered and the committee adopted Amendment CL 292, a short-title amendment naming the bill "Tyler's Law" in memory of a Camas teen who died after obtaining sodium nitrate online. Berry spoke about testimony from the teen's mother and called the amendment "an honor to Tyler and other victims."

During debate, Representative McClintock and others urged support, describing the measure as a needed protection for vulnerable families. Representative DuFau expressed concerns about expanding remedies under the state's Consumer Protection Act and said she would vote without recommendation; she specifically cited the act's treble-damage potential. Other members voiced support for regulation of the chemical while reserving questions about enforcement mechanisms.

Roll-call: The committee incorporated the amendment into substitute HB 1209 and voted to report the substitute bill out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. Staff announced the final tally as 12 ayes, 2 nays and 1 excused. The transcript lists the following votes as recorded during roll call: Representative Wallin — yes; Representative Hackney — excused; Representative McClintock — yes; Representative DuFau — no (recorded as "nay without recommendation"); Representative Abarneau — yes; Representative Berry — yes; Representative Corey — no (recorded as "nay without recommendation"); Representative Donaghy — yes; Representative Kloba — yes; Representative Morgan — yes; Representative Reeves — yes; Representative Santos — yes; Representative Steele — yes. Staff announced 12 ayes, 2 nays, 1 excused.

What the bill does: As described in committee, HB 1209 would limit public retail transfers of products with sodium nitrate concentrations above 10% to verified commercial businesses or institutions; require prominent labeling and notices on packaging and advertisements; require sellers to retain transaction records; and authorize civil penalties for violations. A proposed amendment (adopted) adds the short title "Tyler's Law." Staff also noted a submitter amendment in the committee file would add the short-title text.

Dissent and concerns: Supporters emphasized preventing online sale of a toxic industrial chemical to the public. Opponents and one member raising a reservation focused on enforcement language and expanding consumer-protection remedies; that member said she would withhold a recommendation rather than oppose the policy aim.

Next steps: With the committee’s due-pass recommendation, substitute HB 1209 moves to the full House for consideration.