Minnesota could avert "ban on keys" with deal to tweak toxic metals law
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Minnesota lawmakers appear to have unlocked an 11th hour bipartisan deal to address concerns that a new toxic metal law effectively outlawed most common keys.
State of play: A provision granting key makers a three-year exemption to the state ban on items containing certain levels of lead and cadmium made it into a sweeping commerce finance and policy bill finalized this week.
- After the three years, the lead limit for keys would be lowered to the same limit in place in California.
Catch up fast: Critics, including the home security, boat and auto industries, spent much of the recent session sounding the alarm about their ability to comply with the 2023 law, which was meant to protect kids and workers from exposure to toxic elements.
- They said a lack of "commercially viable" alternative materials meant the sale of most common keys would be illegal.
What they're saying: The Minnesota Retailers Association applauded the agreement as "a realistic and responsible transition that keeps homes, vehicles, and workplaces secure."
- "We're especially appreciative that lawmakers are poised to keep common household keys legal, striking a balance between protecting Minnesotans and recognizing how today's locking systems work," president Bruce Nustad said in a statement.
The fine print: The agreement also exempts cadmium paint from the ban, in response to outcry from artists.
What's next: The draft bill, released by an informal legislative working group on Thursday, is expected to get a vote when legislators return for a special session to finish the state budget.
- That could happen as soon as next week.