SB 1249 California’s Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act Passes Senate with 21-9 Vote

SACRAMENTO—SB 1249 (Galgiani), the California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, passed by a vote of 21 to 9 on the Senate floor on Wednesday. SB 1249, authored by Senator Cathleen Galgiani and sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL) and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, would make it unlawful for cosmetic manufacturers to sell any cosmetic in California if the final product or any component of the product was knowingly tested on animals after January 1, 2020, with a few limited exceptions.

After the vote, Senator Cathleen Galgiani stated, “I appreciate that Democratic and Republican senators came together to move this important policy forward. Looking your best shouldn’t have to come at the expense of harming animals with painful eye and skin tests.”

“We are grateful for every vote cast today knowing hundreds of thousands of animals’ lives are on the line every year,” stated Judie Mancuso, founder and president of SCIL. “SB 1249 is a crucial step towards making all cosmetics that are sold in California cruelty-free. We are hopeful the members of the Assembly will agree.”

Kristie Sullivan, M.P.H., toxicologist and vice president of research policy for the Physicians Committee, stated, “Today Californians are one step closer to safe, cruelty-free cosmetics. Senators recognize that human-relevant test methods, not rabbits and mice, are the best way to ensure safety, and we couldn’t agree more.”

“It’s been a game-changing day for animals with SB 1249 passing the Senate,” said animal rights advocate and star of ABC’s Designated Survivor, Maggie Q, who spent the day lobbying legislators alongside fellow actors Harley Quinn Smith and Katie Cleary. “Today’s victory would not have been possible without the steadfast leadership of Senator Galgiani on this important issue.”

The California legislature is not new in challenging animal testing for cosmetics. In 2014, the legislature passed resolution SJR-22, which urged the federal government to enact legislation that would ban sale and marketing of cosmetics tested on animals. Regarding the Federal government’s lack of movement on the issue Senator Cathleen Galgiani stated, “Congress has not acted, so I am urging the legislature to do what we have normally done when Congress has not acted, which is for California to move forward and lead.”

SB 1249 now moves to the Assembly.