HB 1756 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning lead in cookware.

HB 1756 sets a limit of 5 parts per million for lead in cookware and cookware components that touch food, effective January 1, 2026. It applies to manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers selling cookware in Washington, prohibiting products exceeding this lead level. The law exempts secondhand sales (like casual or nonprofit transactions) and includes definitions for terms like "cookware" (e.g., pots, pans, utensils) and "vulnerable populations." After 2034, the Department of Ecology may lower the limit if feasible and necessary for health protection. This directly affects cookware producers and sellers while prioritizing safety for consumers, especially those in vulnerable groups.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill update clarifies the definitions of cookware and utensils to include items previously excluded, such as rice cookers and specific metal utensils. It also refines the rules for 'inaccessible components' to better account for multi-layered cookware designs. Finally, it adjusts liability protections for retailers and wholesalers, removing explicit references to manufacturers from the exemption clause.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include rice cookers and utensils in the definition of regulated items, and the definition of 'inaccessible component' was broadened to cover multi-layered cookware.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'cookware' was updated to explicitly list rice cookers and other devices intended for food preparation, removing previous exclusions.

The definition of 'inaccessible component' was changed to clarify that it does not apply to multi-layered cookware where one layer touches food, ensuring these items remain subject to lead limits.

The definition of 'utensils' was updated to specify 'metal-containing items' rather than just 'metal items' to cover a broader range of tools.

REQUIREMENT

The liability exemption for unknowingly selling restricted products was revised to remove 'manufacturers' from the list of protected parties, leaving only retailers and wholesalers.

The exemption for casual sales of previously owned lead cookware was removed from the main text of the liability section, though the exemption itself remains in the bill.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 4:00 PM.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 4:00 PM.

lower

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors