We think the 25-26 legislative session is the EIGHTH time Paint Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation has been introduced in MA.  What’s different this time?  We started a strong grass-roots effort, including from Greening Greenfield last session, pushing very, very hard, and while it still didn’t pass, we did get an EPR  Commission established, whose charge is to report back to the legislature on a number of products including Paint. 

The Commission’s first session focused on Paint was held 5/21/25, and it received a favorable Recommendation at the June meeting.  Those minutes were approved in July, so the final, favorable recommendation from the Commission to the legislature is here.

This session’s Paint EPR legislation is S.647 and H.886.  They are very, very similar, but the House bill adds aerosol paints to the Covered Materials.  Each have passed out of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee and moved on to Ways and Means (where they have traditionally died.) 

In early January, the NEW HAMPSHIRE house and senate approved their paint EPR legislation and sent it to the governor for approval.  If she signs, MA will be the LAST state in our region to adopt this useful legislation — or the only one not to.

Click here for testimony of GG member Peg Hall regarding the Paint EPR legislation.

See side bar for more information