H.R.1767 - Awning Safety Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.1767, the Awning Safety Act of 2025, directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to establish a mandatory consumer product safety standard for retractable awnings. This standard aims to protect against death or serious injury related to hazards associated with these awnings. The CPSC must finalize this standard within 18 months of the Act's enactment.
The standard will cover both fixed and freestanding retractable awnings. It specifically addresses the risk of awnings unexpectedly opening and striking individuals when bungee tie-downs are removed.
The Act treats the new standard as a consumer product safety rule under existing sections of the Consumer Product Safety Act, ensuring enforcement and compliance.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this Act will be the creation of a new safety standard for retractable awnings. Manufacturers will need to comply with this standard, potentially leading to design changes and increased production costs.
Consumers should benefit from safer awning products. This could reduce the risk of injury associated with retractable awnings.
The CPSC will be responsible for enforcing the new standard. This may require additional resources and oversight.
Potential Benefits
- Reduced risk of injury from retractable awnings.
- Increased consumer confidence in the safety of awning products.
- Clearer safety guidelines for manufacturers.
- Potential for innovation in awning design to meet safety standards.
- Enhanced public awareness of awning-related hazards.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential increase in the cost of retractable awnings due to compliance with new safety standards.
- Possible delays in the availability of new awning models as manufacturers adapt to the regulations.
- Increased regulatory burden on awning manufacturers.
- Potential for the CPSC to overregulate, stifling innovation.
- Possible legal challenges to the standard from manufacturers.
Constitutional Alignment
This Act appears to align with the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) of the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. By setting safety standards for products sold across state lines, the Act falls under this purview.
The Act also aligns with the general welfare clause of the Constitution's preamble, as it aims to "promote the general Welfare" by reducing the risk of injury associated with consumer products. The Act delegates specific rulemaking authority to the CPSC, which is a common practice and generally permissible under constitutional principles.
There are no apparent violations of individual rights or freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).