A new bill filed by State Rep. Cynthia Ball in the North Carolina House seeks to restrict the sale of cosmetic products containing harmful chemicals to protect public health, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 686 on April 1 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Safe Cosmetics Act.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill, known as the Safe Cosmetics Act, aims to prohibit the distribution or sale of cosmetic products containing certain restricted substances as intentionally added chemicals, or as nonfunctional by-products or contaminants above a practical quantification limit. Restricted substances include perfluoroalkyl compounds, heavy metals, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde releasers, benzophenones, known carcinogens, asbestos, and more. If the Board of Agriculture suspects a cosmetic product contains such substances, it may request a certificate of compliance from the manufacturer, who must respond within 30 days or face sales prohibition and provide a list of entities notified of this prohibition. This act becomes effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Pricey Harrison proposed the most bills (35) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Ball graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a BA and again from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Ball, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2017 to represent the state’s 49th House district, replacing previous state representative Gary Pendleton.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, Mary Belk, and Pricey Harrison | HB 686 | 04/01/2025 | Safe Cosmetics Act. |
| Cynthia Ball, Amber M. Baker, Donny Lambeth, and Erin Paré | HB 588 | 03/31/2025 | School Psychologist Omnibus. |
| Cynthia Ball, Brandon Lofton, Phil Rubin, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 608 | 03/31/2025 | Protect Health and Gov’t Personnel Info. |
| Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, Lindsey Prather, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 531 | 03/26/2025 | Addressing NC’s Teacher Crisis/NTSP. |
| Cynthia Ball, Becky Carney, Carla D. Cunningham, and Mary Belk | HB 495 | 03/24/2025 | Accessing Midwives Act. |
| Cynthia Ball, Carla D. Cunningham, Donna McDowell White, and Donny Lambeth | HB 464 | 03/19/2025 | Healthy Students – A Nurse in Every School. |
| Cynthia Ball, Allison A. Dahle, Maria Cervania, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 429 | 03/18/2025 | Turtle Rescue Team Special Registration Plate. |
| Cynthia Ball, Amos L. Quick, III, Julie von Haefen, and Lindsey Prather | HB 445 | 03/18/2025 | Fairness & Transparency in Education Salaries. |
| Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, Lindsey Prather, and Zack Hawkins | HB 420 | 03/17/2025 | Sound Basic Education for Every Child. |
| Cynthia Ball, Marcia Morey, Mary Belk, and Pricey Harrison | HB 293 | 03/05/2025 | Marine Life Stewardship Act. |
