In response to the on-going coronavirus crisis, many state legislatures across the United States have ended their legislative sessions early. These early closures have had an impact on two bills backed by us, to end the sale of new animal-tested cosmetics in US states Hawaii and Maryland...

In Hawaii, The Hawaii Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act (SB 2754 / HB 704) introduced by state Senator Mike Gabbard and state Representative Chris Lee, was on track to complete its journey through the Hawaii legislature this year, but with a 60-day recess, is now waiting in the wings. The good news is that the bill will pick up where it left off when the legislature reconvenes, which could be this year.

In Maryland, bill SB 729 introduced by state Senator Clarence Lam passed the Senate last week in a landslide vote of 45-0 and moved to the House for further consideration. The Maryland general assembly also ended its legislative session early in response to Covid-19 and will not reconvene this year. Sadly, this means that the cosmetics bill must start over next year, but because the bill is now unopposed, we are confident that it will move forward quickly in 2021.

We look forward to continuing our work in these states supporting the bill authors in making their states cruelty free and helping to ensure that animals are no longer harmed for the sake of cosmetics in the US.

No matter what state you live in, you can help us achieve a nationwide end to cosmetics animal testing by asking your US Representatives to co-sponsor the US Humane Cosmetics Act. Take action here.