Bill > H1032

This bill establishes comprehensive environmental accountability requirements for large fashion sellers (businesses selling clothing, footwear, or fashion bags with over $100 million in annual revenue) by creating a new regulatory framework that mandates environmental due diligence across their supply chains. The legislation requires fashion sellers to map their entire production supply chain across four tiers over six years, disclose supplier information, establish greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets aligned with scientific standards, and report annually on their environmental impact through a detailed due diligence report. The bill creates a Fashion Environmental Accountability Fund administered by the Attorney General to support education and enforcement, and implements a compliance mechanism where companies must independently verify their environmental claims, with potential fines of up to 2% of annual revenues for non-compliance. Key environmental requirements include tracking and reducing carbon emissions, managing chemical and wastewater pollution, incentivizing supplier environmental performance, and developing responsible exit strategies if adverse environmental impacts are identified. The reports must be publicly accessible, follow open data principles, and cover detailed aspects of the company's environmental efforts, with the goal of increasing transparency and driving meaningful environmental improvements in the fashion industry.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1032