Student‑backed bill to clarify ‘reef safe’ sunscreen labeling moves forward unanimously
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Summary
AB 1744 would prohibit labeling or advertising sunscreen as 'reef safe' or similar claims if the product contains chemical UV filters linked in testimony to coral harm; the measure, sponsored by a high‑school Eco Club, passed the committee with no recorded opposition.
Assemblymember Addis presented AB 1744, the 'Clear Labels/Clear Seas' bill, explaining the measure would require sunscreen products labeled or advertised as "reef safe" or similar not to contain chemical UV filters identified in testimony as harmful to coral and coastal ecosystems. The author described the bill as a transparency and labeling measure rather than a ban on chemicals.
High school students from the sponsoring Eco Club — including Mikaela Spencer and Isabelle Naff of C.K. McClatchy Senior High School — testified about their research on chemical UV filters and marine impacts, citing NOAA and peer‑reviewed studies that link some chemical filters to disrupted photosynthesis and coral bleaching. Supporters included ocean‑conservation groups and student activists; no opposition appeared during the hearing.
Committee members praised the students' work and the bill's tailored approach. The measure received a chair's recommendation and carried unanimously on roll call and was referred to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection.