Several states across the US continue to push bills through their legislatures on the use of chemicals of high concern in children's products.

A hearing of Oregon House Bill (HB) 3162, that would require children’s products manufacturers to report to the state on their use of chemicals of high concern to children, has been scheduled for 20 March 2013 .Among the witnesses expected to testify are representatives of the Oregon Medical Association, Oregon Nurses Association, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and Washington State's Department of Ecology, which is currently administering a similar law in that state.Commenting in advance of the hearing, the ACC said it is “concerned that this bill could unnecessarily alarm parents about some children’s products” and that it is “contrary to good science policy to say that the mere presence of a chemical in a product can cause harm, when that chemical has been reviewed and approved by scientists at regulatory agencies.”

Similar bills are also under consideration in Alaska and Vermont. Like Oregon's HB 3162, Alaska's HB 96 and Vermont Senate Bill S 117 would establish a state list of chemicals of high concern to children and require children’s product manufacturers to report on their use of these chemicals. These bills would also allow state authorities to prohibit the sale of such products if it is determined that safer alternatives to the chemicals of concern are available.

Alaska's HB 96 is awaiting a hearing by the House Labor and Commerce committee. Vermont S 117 has been referred to the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee.

Also awaiting action in Vermont, is S 81. This would add prohibitions on several flame retardants to those already in place for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). As introduced, S 81 would bar tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) phosphate (TCPP) and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) from children’s products and residential furniture.The final scope of products covered by the bill and chemical concentrations permitted, however, are currently under discussion. A similar bill, S 351, is now also under consideration by the Massachusetts state Senate.

A hearing on Washington state's HB 1294 which would bar TCEP and TDCPP from children's products and residential furniture is scheduled for 19 March .