California nears first-in-nation ban on plastic glitter in cosmetics

By 2029, eyeshadows, nail polishes and other cosmetics that shimmer and shine from plastic glitter could be banned in California.

In the latest push to curb the prevalence of microplastics in the environment, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a first-in-the-nation bill that would ban the sale of personal care products that contain plastic glitter or plastic microbeads.

The proposal by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner would expand a 2015 state law that already bans microplastic beads in products that are intended to be immediately rinsed off, such as face washes and toothpastes. 

But the latest bill would apply to products that are left on — including lotions and makeup — as well as household products such as cleaners, detergents and paint. Companies add microbeads to these items to give them abrasive or exfoliating properties.

Research has found that microplastics — extremely small particles of plastic that do not break down easily in the environment — detected in the human body could be linked to cardiovascular disease and stroke, cancer, and neurological problems. 

Potentially harmful levels of so-called “forever chemicals” associated with plastics are found in California’s coastal waters and drinking water. State lawmakers recently banned sturdier single-use plastic bags, and attempted to ban the use of forever chemicals in synthetic turf.

This wouldn’t spell the end of California stores stocking glittering makeup, though. Some major cosmetic brands sell products that contain mica, a mineral that can lend makeup its shimmer. Though concerns have been raised about mica sourcing, some research has found that mica could serve as a naturally-occuring alternative to plastic glitter.

• Boerner, a Solana Beach Democrat: “I’m all for glitter and glamor. But let it be safe and let it not harm our health. ”

The bill is now before the Senate’s appropriations committee. If passed, California manufacturers and retailers that make, distribute or sell these products would be fined up to $2,500 per day for each violation.

As part of new labor agreements with some of California’s state workers unions, Gov. Gavin Newsom agreed to delay his return-to-office policy. But the move has raised certain doubts about the governor’s original intentions among some labor leaders and proponents of in-person work alike, reports CalMatters’ Maya C. Miller.

In March the governor ordered state workers back to the office at least four days a week, starting July 1, saying that “in-person work makes us all stronger.” 

A few weeks before that policy was to take effect, however, the union representing state engineers struck a labor deal to pause that mandate for one year. Two other unions, including SEIU Local 1000, reached a deal to delay the order.

Anica Walls, SEIU Local 1000’s president, said the pause is “a direct result of our members fighting back.” But also that members considered Newsom’s about-face as having “more to do with politics and pressure than performance.”

Read more here.

A CalFire chatbot to help Californians access important fire prevention information and “near-real-time emergency information,” is stumbling at answering basic questions, writes CalMatters’ Malena Carollo.

When it debuted in May, the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot was intended to provide, among other things, resources on wildfire incidents and home hardening, according to Newsom’s office.

But two months after its launch, Malena found that the chatbot sometimes spits out different answers to questions that mean the same thing. It also doesn’t generate the most up-to-date wildfire information and is unable to provide information about evacuation orders.

CalFire says it’s working on improving the tool, but some experts say that not only should the kinks have been ironed out before the rollout, but that the public should have had more input too.

The chatbot is part of Newsom’s 2023 executive order to develop more AI tools to improve government efficiency. Other AI-powered tools in development for the state include ones related to highway congestion and tax preparation. 

Read more here.

The California Highway Patrol — one of the state’s largest police forces — plans to equip all its officers with body cameras by next year. The move comes three years after CalMatters reported that only 3% of highway patrol officers had body-worn cameras. Learn more from CalMatters’ Byrhonda Lyons.