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HB 5674

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Nathan Biah and 6 co-sponsors

Repeals the bottle deposit law and imposes mandatory recycling of beverage containers, shifting costs and oversight to producers and state agencies.

07/02/2025 Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · HB 5674

Summary — HB 5674

Title: AN ACT REPEALING THE BOTTLE BILL AND PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY RECYCLING OF SUCH BEVERAGE CONTAINERS
Bill number: HB 5674 (Sponsor: Wilson) | Subject: Beverage container deposits; beverage containers; recycling
Introduced: April 14, 2025 | Effective date: September 1, 2025

Main purpose and intent

HB 5674 would repeal the existing “bottle bill” (deposit–refund) statute and replace it with a statutory framework that makes recycling of beverage containers mandatory. The intent, as expressed by the title, is to end the deposit/return system and instead require collection and recycling of beverage containers under a new regulatory regime.

Key provisions (as indicated by the title and legislative summary)

  • Repeal: The bill repeals the state's existing beverage container deposit/return law (commonly called the bottle bill).
  • Mandatory recycling: Establishes a requirement that beverage containers subject to the prior deposit system must be collected and recycled under mandatory recycling rules.
  • Implementation authority: The bill likely delegates rulemaking and enforcement authority to one or more state agencies (not specified in the summary).
  • Transitional and enforcement elements: The title implies new compliance obligations; the bill summary does not provide the detailed mechanism (e.g., who must collect, what recycling targets apply, funding or fees, labeling changes, or penalties).

Important note: The legislative record provided does not include the bill text or detailed statutory language, so specific program mechanics (producer responsibilities, retailer take‑back duties, municipal roles, extended producer responsibility (EPR) fees, collection targets, or penalties) are not contained in the materials supplied here. Review the bill text or companion measure (SB 3057) for operational details.

Who would be affected

  • Consumers: Likely changes to whether consumers pay/receive deposits at purchase/return (deposit payments and refunds would be eliminated under repeal).
  • Beverage manufacturers and distributors: Potentially new obligations to finance, organize, or participate in mandatory recycling programs (could include EPR-style fees).
  • Retailers and redemption centers: Existing redemption centers that handle deposit returns would be directly affected; retailers’ responsibilities could change (less redemption workload, possible new take‑back or collection duties).
  • Municipalities and recycling processors: Changes in inbound material streams and funding/operational responsibilities for curbside or drop‑off programs.
  • State government: Oversight, compliance monitoring, and possible administrative costs or savings depending on program design.

Potential impacts

  • Environmental: Outcomes depend on implementation—mandatory recycling can increase recovered materials but may or may not match the recovery rates of a deposit system unless enforcement, convenience, and funding are adequate.
  • Economic: Could shift costs away from consumers/retailers and toward producers or the state; may disrupt businesses that operate redemption centers; may require investment in recycling infrastructure.
  • Administrative: New regulatory framework, rulemaking, and enforcement tasks for state agencies.

Legislative and procedural timeline (selected milestones)

  • Introduced and read 1st time: April 14, 2025 (referred to Land & Resource Management; also noted initially referred to Joint Committee on Environment 1/21/25)
  • Committee activity and hearings: May 1–23, 2025 (public hearings, committee votes, reported favorably without amendments)
  • House passage: May 10, 2025 (readings and passed)
  • Senate passage: May 28–31, 2025 (read 2nd & 3rd times, passed, enrolled)
  • Transmitted to Governor: April 16, 2025 (date in record; final transmittal/enrollment occurred in late May)
  • Final action by Governor: Filed without the Governor’s signature — June 20, 2025
  • Effective date: September 1, 2025

Next steps / where to find details

  • For statutory specifics (definitions, compliance deadlines, funding, enforcement, exemptions), consult the enrolled bill text and the companion bill SB 3057.
  • Contact: Office of Representative Wilson or the Joint Committee on Environment for bill text, fiscal notes, and implementation guidance.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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