Fluorescent lights are now an item of the past as the rest of Oregon House Bill 2531 took effect January 1, 2025.
The bill originally began with a prohibition of distribution and sales in the state of new screw- or bayonet-base type compact fluorescent lamps on January 1, 2024.
HB 2531 says that fluorescent bulbs contain mercury which can be released into the environment as a liquid or vapor when a bulb breaks.
Mercury exposure can cause negative health effects that can include harming internal organs and the nervous system in humans, as well as in fish and wildlife.
The rest of HB 2531 that began at the start of this year prohibits the sale or distribution in Oregon of new pin-base type compact fluorescent lamps and linear fluorescent lamps — those are the long ones you often see in offices.
All fluorescent lamps will no longer be found on store shelves as many local businesses pulled products down before the new year began.
According to the Staff Measure Summary, a civil penalty may be enacted for anyone who violates the house bill.
You can learn more about House Bill 2531 on the Oregon State Legislature website.