Governor Signs Villa Measure to Ban BPA in Receipts

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed legislation passed by state Rep. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, to prevent exposure to the harmful chemical bisphenol A (BPA), which is currently found in many everyday plastics and other items, such as receipts and business records.

“We know that exposure to bisphenol A has the potential to be extremely dangerous, especially for pregnant women, their babies and small children,” said Villa. “As many families are making a conscious effort to avoid contact with BPA by checking the labels on food storage containers and canned goods, it is commonsense to remove it from other items that we come into contact with every day, like receipts.”

Villa’s House Bill 2076, which was recently signed into law, will amend the Illinois Environmental Protection Act to prohibit the manufacture, distribution and use of thermal paper with BPA-based coating beginning January 1, 2020. Villa’s measure was backed by Sierra Club Illinois, the Illinois Environmental Council, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 881 and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. For her continued efforts, Villa was also recently commended by the Illinois Environmental Council with a 100% pro-environment voting record.

“I applaud the governor for signing this legislation into law and standing up for Illinois families and workers by addressing the public health crisis caused by exposure to BPA,” continued Villa. “I will continue fighting to pass policies that protect both Illinois’ families and our environment.”