WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HR 1442

Commemorating the 20th anniversary of Heritage Boot Company in Austin.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by John Bucy

Prohibits sale of consumer products with sodium nitrite above 10% concentration to reduce self-poisonings, while preserving legitimate commercial and research uses.

Reported enrolled
#heritagebootcompany(nu33z) #resolutions--congratulatory&honorary(i0705)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 1442

Summary — H.R. 1442 (Youth Poisoning Protection Act)

Note on metadata: the bill metadata provided also included a different title/classification (a commemorative resolution for Heritage Boot Company). The authoritative committee report (H. Rept. 119‑67) and legislative record indicate H.R. 1442 is the Youth Poisoning Protection Act — a substantive consumer‑safety measure to restrict access to high‑concentration sodium nitrite. This summary follows the committee report and bill text.

Purpose

H.R. 1442, introduced Feb. 18, 2025 (Rep. Lori Trahan), aims to reduce deliberate self‑poisonings and accidental poisonings by prohibiting consumer access to products that contain high concentrations of sodium nitrite. The measure targets the recent rise in deaths from sodium nitrite ingestion and online dissemination of instructions facilitating its misuse.

Key provisions

  • Adds high‑concentration sodium nitrite products to the list of banned hazardous consumer products under the Consumer Product Safety Act (ref. 15 U.S.C. 2057).
  • Prohibits sale of consumer products that contain sodium nitrite at concentrations greater than 10 percent.
  • Preserves legitimate uses by exempting:
    • Business‑to‑business sales (commercial and industrial purchasers).
    • Sales to universities and schools for education and research.
    • Products outside the CPSC “consumer product” definition (e.g., regulated foods/food additives, drugs, devices, and cosmetics under relevant federal law).
  • Narrow threshold (10%) allows products with small/de minimis residual sodium nitrite to remain available where they do not pose a safety concern.
  • Does not restrict industrial, pharmaceutical, or other commercial uses that rely on larger quantities of sodium nitrite.

Rationale / background

  • Sodium nitrite is commonly used for meat curing and industrial purposes but can cause rapid death at high doses (causing hypotension and methemoglobinemia).
  • Poison centers report rising incidents of self‑poisoning with sodium nitrite since 2017; online forums have amplified availability and methods.
  • Private retailers (e.g., Amazon) have already restricted some consumer sales; the bill seeks a federal, narrowly tailored solution to limit household access while preserving critical commercial and medical uses.

Who is affected

  • Restricted: Retailers, online consumer sellers, and members of the general public seeking to purchase high‑concentration sodium nitrite for non‑commercial uses.
  • Unaffected/exempted: Manufacturers supplying industry, pharmaceutical and chemical sectors, universities/schools for research, and regulated food/drug products.

Legislative status and timeline (selected)

  • Introduced: Feb. 18, 2025 (Rep. Lori Trahan).
  • Committee: Referred to House Energy & Commerce; reported favorably in H. Rept. 119‑67 (Apr. 24, 2025). Committee markup vote: 50–1 (Apr. 8, 2025).
  • House passage: Passed under suspension of the rules Apr. 29, 2025 (Yeas 378 – Nays 42; Roll No. 108).
  • Senate: Received Apr. 30, 2025; read twice and placed on Senate Legislative Calendar (Calendar No. 116) Jul. 16, 2025.
  • Sponsors/co‑sponsors: Rep. Lori Trahan (primary); cosponsors include Joe Neguse and Mike Carey.
  • Related legislation: H.R. 1768 (companion); S. 289 (companion).

Impact considerations

  • Public‑health: Intended to reduce availability of a highly lethal substance to consumers and thereby lower self‑harm fatalities tied to sodium nitrite.
  • Commercial/industrial: Preserves access for legitimate business, research, and medical emergency uses; implementation may require sellers to verify purchaser status or change online marketplace practices.
  • Regulatory: Enforcement would rely on the Consumer Product Safety Act framework and likely involve the Consumer Product Safety Commission and marketplace compliance.

If you’d like, I can produce a one‑page fact sheet for retailers or a timeline summarizing next procedural steps if/when the Senate acts.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.