S 1092 · 119th Congress · Commerce

WIPPES Act

Introduced March 24, 2025 Latest action March 24, 2026 9 cosponsors

Sponsor

Latest action

Held at the desk.

Action timeline

Every recorded action on this bill, newest first. Stage badges color-code the legislative path.

Mar 24, 2026

floor Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Mar 24, 2026

floor Received in the House.

Mar 24, 2026

floor Held at the desk.

Mar 22, 2026

passed Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

Mar 22, 2026

passed Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1521-1522; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1521-1522)

Text versions

Each stage of the bill — official text published by GPO. Click any format to read on congress.gov / govinfo.

Mar 22, 2026 Engrossed in Senate

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Sep 19, 2025 Reported to Senate

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Mar 24, 2025 Introduced in Senate

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CRS summaries

Plain-English summaries written by the Congressional Research Service — neutral, nonpartisan staff who summarize bills as they advance through stages. The authoritative description of what each version of the bill does.

00 Introduced in Senate Mar 24, 2025

Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act or the WIPPES Act This bill requires entities responsible for the labeling or retail packaging of certain premoistened, nonwoven wipes (e.g., baby wipes, cleaning wipes, or personal care wipes) to label such products clearly and conspicuously with the phrase Do Not Flush and accompanying symbol as depicted under specified industry guidelines. The Federal Trade Commission must enforce these requirements and may issue regulations to implement the bill.

via Congressional Research Service · published through congress.gov

Changelog

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How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.

`ih` / `is` — Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.

`rfh` / `rfs` — Referred to a committee for review.

`rh` / `rs` — Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).

`pcs` / `pch` — Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.

`eh` / `es` — Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.

`rdh` / `rds` — Received by the other chamber.

`eah` / `eas` — Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.

`ath` / `ats` — Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.

`enr` — Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.

`pl` — Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.

`pp` — Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.

Most bills die before `eh`/`es`. Going from `pcs` → `enr` is the full path through both chambers.

Line-level diff between text versions of this bill — what actually changed at each legislative stage.

+13 −273 29 unchanged

--- Reported (Senate)

+++ Engrossed (Senate)

@@ -1,277 +1,21 @@

[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

-[S. 1092 Reported in Senate (RS)]

+[S. 1092 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

<DOC>

-Calendar No. 166

119th CONGRESS

-1st Session

+2d Session

S. 1092

-[Report No. 119-63]

+_______________________________________________________________________

+AN ACT

To require certain products to be labeled with `Do Not Flush' labeling,

and for other purposes.

-_______________________________________________________________________

-IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

-March 24, 2025

-Mr. Merkley (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. King, Mr.

-Markey, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. Shaheen, and Ms.

-Warren) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and

-referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

-September 19 (legislative day, September 16), 2025

-Reported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment

-[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed

-in italic]

-_______________________________________________________________________

-A BILL

-To require certain products to be labeled with `Do Not Flush' labeling,

-and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

United States of America in Congress assembled,

-<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Wastewater Infrastructure

-Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act'' or the ``WIPPES

-Act''.</DELETED>

-<DELETED>SEC. 2. ``DO NOT FLUSH'' LABELING.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (a) In General.--A covered entity shall label a covered

-product clearly and conspicuously with the label notice and symbol, in

-accordance with subsections (b) and (c).</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (b) Requirements.--</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (1) Cylindrical packaging.--In the case of a

-covered product sold in cylindrical or near-cylindrical

-packaging, and intended to dispense individual wipes--

-</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (A) the symbol and label notice shall be

-displayed on the principal display panel in a clear and

-conspicuous location reasonably visible to the user

-each time a wipe is dispensed; or</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (B) the symbol shall be displayed on the

-principal display panel and the label notice, or a

-combination of the label notice and symbol, shall be

-displayed on a flip lid in a manner that covers at

-least 8 percent of the surface area of the flip

-lid.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (2) Flexible film packaging.--In the case of a

-covered product sold in flexible film packaging, and intended

-to dispense individual wipes--</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (A) the symbol shall be displayed on the

-principal display panel and, if the principal display

-panel is not on the dispensing side of the packaging,

-on the dispensing side panel; and</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (B) the label notice shall be displayed on

-either the principal display panel or the dispensing

-side panel, in a clear and conspicuous location

-reasonably visible to the user each time a wipe is

-dispensed.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (3) Rigid packaging.--In the case of a covered

-product sold in a refillable tub or other rigid packaging that

-may be reused by a customer, and that is intended to dispense

-individual wipes, the symbol and label notice shall be

-displayed on the principal display panel in a clear and

-conspicuous location reasonably visible to the user each time a

-wipe is dispensed.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (4) Packaging not intended to dispense individual

-wipes.--In the case of a covered product sold in packaging that

-is not intended to dispense individual wipes, the symbol and

-label notice shall be displayed on the principal display panel

-in a clear and conspicuous location reasonably visible to the

-user of the covered product.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (5) Bulk packaging.--</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (A) In general.--In the case of a covered

-product sold in bulk at retail, the symbol and label

-notice shall be displayed on both the outer packaging

-visible at retail and the individual packaging

-contained within the outer packaging.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (B) Exemption.--The following shall be

-exempt from the requirements of subparagraph

-(A):</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (i) Individually packaged covered

-products that are contained within outer

-packaging, are not intended to dispense

-individual wipes, and have no retail

-labeling.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (ii) Outer packaging that does not

-obscure the symbol and label notice on

-individually packaged covered products

-contained within.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (6) Packaging of combined products.--</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (A) Outer packaging.--The outer packaging

-of combined products shall be exempt from the symbol

-and label notice requirements of subsection

-(a).</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (B) Packages less than 3 by 3 inches.--In

-the case of a covered product in packaging smaller than

-3 inches by 3 inches (such as an individually packaged

-wipe in tear-top packaging) and sold as part of a

-combined product, if a symbol and label notice are

-placed in a prominent location reasonably visible to

-the user of the covered product, such covered product

-shall be considered to be labeled clearly and

-conspicuously.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (c) Reasonable Visibility of Symbol and Label Notice.--

-</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (1) In general.--A covered entity shall ensure

-that--</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (A) packaging seams or folds or other

-packaging design elements do not obscure the symbol or

-label notice;</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (B) the symbol and label notice are each

-equal in size to at least 2 percent of the surface area

-of the principal display panel; and</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (C) the symbol and label notice have high

-contrast with the immediate background of the packaging

-so that such symbol and label notice may be seen and

-read by an ordinary individual under customary

-conditions of purchase and use.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (2) Proximity of symbol and label notice.--A

-covered entity may display a symbol and label notice either

-adjacent to or on separate areas of the principal display

-panel.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (3) Exception.--Paragraph (1)(C) does not apply to

-an embossed symbol or label notice on the flip lid of a covered

-product sold in cylindrical or near-cylindrical

-packaging.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (d) Representations of Flushability.--With respect to a

-covered product, a covered entity may not make any express or implied

-representation that such covered product can or should be

-flushed.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (e) Enforcement by Federal Trade Commission.--</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (1) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices.--A

-violation of this section or any regulation promulgated under

-this section shall be treated as a violation of a regulation

-under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act

-(15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or

-practices.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (2) Powers of commission.--The Commission shall

-enforce this section and any regulations promulgated under this

-section by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction,

-powers, and duties, as though all applicable terms and

-provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et

-seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this section,

-and any person who violates this section or any regulation

-promulgated under this section shall be subject to the

-penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities

-provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (3) Regulations.--The Commission may promulgate

-regulations under section 553 of title 5, United States Code,

-to implement this section. In developing the regulations, the

-Commission may consult with the Administrator of the

-Environmental Protection Agency, the Commissioner of Food and

-Drugs, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or any other

-agency as appropriate.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (4) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this section

-may be construed to limit the authority of the Commission under

-any other provision of law.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (f) Preemption of State Laws.--No State or political

-subdivision of a State may directly or indirectly establish or continue

-in effect, under any authority, requirements with respect to the ``Do

-Not Flush'' labeling of covered products that are not identical to the

-requirements of this section and the regulations promulgated under this

-section.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (g) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (1) Combined product.--The term ``combined

-product'' means two or more products sold in shared retail

-packaging, of which--</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (A) at least one of the products is a

-covered product; and</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (B) at least one of the products is

-another consumer product intended to be used in

-combination with such covered product.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the

-Federal Trade Commission.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (3) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity''

-means a manufacturer, wholesaler, supplier, individual or group

-of individuals, or retailer that is responsible for the

-labeling or retail packaging of a covered product that is sold

-or offered for retail sale in the United States.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (4) Covered product.--</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (A) In general.--The term ``covered

-product'' means a premoistened, nonwoven disposable

-wipe sold or offered for retail sale--</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (i) that is marketed as a baby

-wipe or diapering wipe; or</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (ii) that is a household or

-personal care wipe (including a wipe described

-in subparagraph (B)) that--</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (I) is composed entirely,

-or in part, of petrochemical-derived

-fibers; and</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (II) has significant

-potential to be flushed.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (B) Inclusions.--The wipes described in

-this subparagraph are--</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (i) antibacterial wipes and

-disinfecting wipes;</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (ii) wipes intended for general

-purpose cleaning or bathroom cleaning,

-including toilet cleaning and hard surface

-cleaning; and</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (iii) wipes intended for personal

-care use on the body, including hand

-sanitizing, makeup removal, feminine hygiene,

-adult hygiene (including incontinence hygiene),

-and body cleansing.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (5) High contrast.--The term ``high contrast''

-means, with respect to the symbol or label notice, that such

-symbol or label notice--</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (A) is either light on a solid dark

-background or dark on a solid light background;

-and</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (B) has a contrast percentage of at least

-70 percent between such symbol or label notice and the

-background, using the formula (B1-B2)/B1 ) 100 =

-contrast percentage, where B1 is the light reflectance

-value of the lighter area and B2 is the light

-reflectance value of the darker area.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (6) Label notice.--The term ``label notice'' means

-the written phrase ``Do Not Flush''.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (7) Principal display panel.--The term ``principal

-display panel'' means the side of a product package that is

-most likely to be displayed, presented, or shown under

-customary conditions of display for retail sale, and--

-</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (A) in the case of a cylindrical or near-

-cylindrical package, the surface area of which

-constitutes at least 40 percent of the product package,

-as measured by multiplying the height by the

-circumference of the package; or</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (B) in the case of a flexible film package

-in which a rectangular prism or near-rectangular prism

-stack of wipes is housed within the film, the surface

-area of which is measured by multiplying the length by

-the width of the side of the package when the flexible

-packaging film is pressed flat against the stack of

-wipes on all sides of the stack.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (8) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of

-the United States, the District of Columbia, and each

-commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United

-States.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (9) Symbol.--The term ``symbol'' means the ``Do

-Not Flush'' symbol, as depicted in the most recent edition of

-the Guidelines for Assessing the Flushability of Disposable

-Nonwoven Products published by the Association of the Nonwoven

-Fabrics Industry (INDA) and the European Disposables And

-Nonwovens Association (EDANA), or an otherwise equivalent

-symbol adopted by the Commission through rulemaking under this

-section.</DELETED>

-<DELETED> (h) Effective Date.--This section shall apply to a covered

-entity beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date of the

-enactment of this Act.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

@@ -498,25 +242,21 @@

beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of

this Act and shall not apply to any covered product packaged or sold

before such date.

-Calendar No. 166

+Passed the Senate March 22, 2026.

+Attest:

+Secretary.

119th CONGRESS

-1st Session

+2d Session

S. 1092

-[Report No. 119-63]

_______________________________________________________________________

-A BILL

+AN ACT

To require certain products to be labeled with `Do Not Flush' labeling,

and for other purposes.

-_______________________________________________________________________

-September 19 (legislative day, September 16), 2025

-Reported with an amendment

Cosponsors (9)

Members who signed on to support this bill.