California restricts bisphenols in paper receipts from 2028

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1604 on 30 September 2026, barring intentionally added bisphenol A in paper proofs of purchase from 1 January 2028 and all intentionally added bisphenols from 1 January 2029. The law follows Washington state's bisphenol restriction on thermal paper, effective 1 January 2026, and adds to earlier BPA-specific rules in Connecticut and Illinois; New York and New Jersey are considering further limits on both chemical content and when paper receipts may be issued at all.

Why this mattersThermal and specialty paper makers supplying receipt stock face a widening, state-by-state compliance patchwork covering both chemical content and format, raising reformulation and Proposition 65 litigation exposure.

• AB 1604 signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on 30 September 2026
• BPA ban in paper proofs of purchase takes effect 1 January 2028, all intentionally added bisphenols banned from 1 January 2029
• Violations carry penalties up to USD 5,000 for a first offence and USD 10,000 for each subsequent offence, enforced by the Department of Toxic Substances Control
• Washington state's bisphenol restriction on thermal paper took effect 1 January 2026 with a rebuttable presumption above 200 parts per million
• Center for Environmental Health reached Proposition 65 settlements with 163 retailers, manufacturers and receipt-paper distributors in August 2026 over BPS exposure
• New York and New Jersey are weighing bills to shift receipts to an opt-in or electronic-first model from 2028-2030

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