A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Performance Life Disclosure Act of 2026. It requires manufacturers of certain household appliances to put a label or tag on their products. This tag must show how long the appliance is expected to last, both with and without routine maintenance. The labels must also show the estimated annual cost of routine maintenance. Furthermore, the tags must state which features require Wi-Fi or software updates, and how long the manufacturer will provide those updates. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce these rules, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology will set up a way for consumers to report when their appliances stop working.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +6
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill enhances consumer protection by requiring household appliance manufacturers to disclose estimated performance life, maintenance costs, and software support duration.
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill improves government transparency by requiring NIST to publicly publish appliance failure reports disaggregated by manufacturer and model.
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Low-income households benefit significantly from knowing the true ongoing costs of appliance maintenance and expected longevity before making a purchase.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(a)(1)(A)(i) and (ii): Consumers benefit because manufacturers must disclose the estimated performance life of an appliance both with and without routine maintenance. This helps people know how long they can expect the product to last.
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Section 2(a)(1)(A)(iii): People can see the estimated annual cost of recommended routine maintenance, which helps buyers understand the true ongoing cost of owning the appliance.
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Section 2(a)(1)(A)(iv) and (v): Shoppers are told which features require a Wi-Fi connection or software updates to operate, and how long the manufacturer will provide those updates. This prevents people from buying smart appliances that quickly become outdated.
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Section 2(c)(1): Consumers get an easy reporting mechanism to let the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology know when an appliance has reached the end of its performance life. This information is then published publicly by manufacturer and model.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
Based on the provided text, there are no explicit negative impacts or burdens for individuals or groups of people mentioned in the bill.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income households benefit significantly from knowing the true ongoing costs of appliance maintenance and expected longevity before making a purchase. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Middle-aged consumers benefit from clearer disclosure on appliance maintenance costs and expected performance life. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-class households benefit from transparent appliance labeling that prevents unexpected costs and premature replacement expenses. Would retired people be better off under this? — Retirees living on fixed incomes benefit from clear information on appliance reliability and maintenance expenses. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors benefit from clear appliance labeling that helps them understand ongoing maintenance costs and product longevity. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adults benefit from transparency regarding appliance durability and smart-feature software update lifespans when purchasing household goods. Would children be better off under this? — Better-informed household purchases benefit families and children by improving household budgeting and reliability. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural residents purchasing household appliances benefit from mandatory performance life and maintenance cost disclosures. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Urban residents purchasing household appliances benefit from mandatory performance life and maintenance cost disclosures.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill improves government transparency by requiring NIST to publicly publish appliance failure reports disaggregated by manufacturer and model. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill grants federal agencies such as the FTC and NIST new regulatory and enforcement authorities regarding appliance labeling.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill enhances consumer protection by requiring household appliance manufacturers to disclose estimated performance life, maintenance costs, and software support duration.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill involves the National Institute of Standards and Technology in establishing reporting mechanisms and standards for appliance performance life disclosures.
- 10/22/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.