# 119-s-2491: SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act

119-s-2491, SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] (D-NH); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2491
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2491
- Congress: 119
- Title: SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-07-29
- Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] (D-NH)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Modernizing how the FDA evaluates and tests active ingredients in topical over-the-counter drugs**. This bill would require the agency to weigh benefits against risks using traditional clinical data plus real-world evidence, accept appropriate non-animal tests, and set clearer sunscreen standards. - Families and consumers: Would ensure final sunscreen rules account for historical safety data and recognize the skin cancer prevention role of broad-spectrum sunscreens with SPF 15 or higher. - Drug sponsors and manufacturers: Would allow sponsors to use real-world evidence and specific nonclinical testing alternatives to meet safety and effectiveness standards. The FDA would have to issue draft guidance on using non-animal methods within 1 year. - FDA oversight and transparency: Would require a report to relevant congressional committees 18 months after enactment and annually for five years on implementation, the number of sunscreen ingredient reviews, and progress toward non-animal testing. Reports would be posted on FDA's website within 7 days.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS] (R-KS), 2025-07-29T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Sunscreen orders must consider safety: benefit, high. If enacted, the FDA would have to make any final administrative order on over-the-counter sunscreen ingredients account for past U.S. safety data. The agency would have to recognize the role of broad-spectrum sunscreens with SPF 15 or higher in preventing skin cancer and use the bill's evidence and…
- New testing rules for topical drugs: mixed, high. If enacted, the FDA would be allowed to use real-world evidence to supplement clinical trials when reviewing active ingredients in over-the-counter topical drugs. The agency would have to weigh benefits against risks and apply testing standards to topical ingredients. The FDA would also have to con…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-3265: Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act
- 119-s-3339: AI Workforce PREPARE Act
- 119-s-2355: Patients Deserve Price Tags Act
- 119-s-882: Patients Before Middlemen Act
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-2491 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2491)

## Related
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-3265: Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3265)
- [119-s-3339: AI Workforce PREPARE Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3339)
- [119-s-2355: Patients Deserve Price Tags Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2355)
- [119-s-882: Patients Before Middlemen Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-882)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2491 (as of 2026-04-21).