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SB 1341

Beverage containers: wine and distilled spirits: processing fees.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Christopher Cabaldon

SB 1341 updates how processing fees for wine and distilled spirits containers are calculated, collected, and administered, affecting producers and program funding.

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
#beveragecontainers #processingfees #wineanddistilledspirits
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1341

Overview

SB 1341, introduced in the 2025-2026 session of the California Legislature, addresses processing fees related to beverage containers for wine and distilled spirits. The bill outlines changes to existing fee structures, administration, and potential fiscal impacts. Co-sponsor: Christopher Cabaldon.

Purpose and Intent

  • Update and standardize processing fees charged for beverage containers of wine and distilled spirits.
  • Clarify administrative responsibilities and ensure timely collection and allocation of fees.
  • Align fee levels with program costs or policy objectives related to beverage container recycling and waste diversion (as applicable to the relevant California program).

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Establishes or modifies processing fees applicable to wine and distilled spirits containers.
  • Specifies how fee amounts are calculated (e.g., per container, per unit, or by size/volume) and the categories of containers subject to the fee.
  • Defines the administrative authority and responsibilities for collection, enforcement, and reporting of these fees.
  • Sets deadlines for fee submissions and for reporting to responsible state agencies.
  • Revisions may include sunset provisions, exemptions, or thresholds for small producers, though exact exemptions (if any) are not detailed in the provided history.
  • Includes procedural elements such as hearings, amendments, and re-referrals among committees (Natural Resources, Appropriations, Environmental Quality) as part of the legislative process.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Producers, importers, distributors, or retailers of wine and distilled spirits containers that fall under the beverage container program.
  • State agencies responsible for implementing, collecting, and auditing processing fees (likely environmental or resources departments).
  • Potentially small producers or wineries/distilleries if there are exemptions or special provisions.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced February 20, 2026; assigned to relevant committees (Environmental Quality, Resources, Appropriations).
  • Multiple committee referrals and amendments occurred between March and June 2026.
  • Notable chronology:
    • March–April 2026: Hearings and amendments; introduced in E.Q. and moved to other committees.
    • May 11, 2026: Heard and placed on the Appropriations suspense file.
    • May 14, 2026: Do pass as amended; second reading.
    • May 18–22, 2026: Passed through committees and ordered to the Assembly; later in May 2026: read and advanced.
    • June 1–22, 2026: Re-referred to committees, with a hearing postponed on June 22, 2026.
  • The bill’s progress indicates active consideration with amendments before potential final passage.

Fiscal and Policy Implications

  • The bill would affect state revenues derived from processing fees for wine and distilled spirits containers.
  • Depending on the fee structure, the bill could influence costs for producers and retailers, potentially impacting pricing, supply chain decisions, or recycling program funding.
  • If exemptions or tiered rates exist, small producers may be differently affected than large producers.

Summary

SB 1341 seeks to modify the processing fees associated with beverage containers for wine and distilled spirits in California. It outlines how fees are calculated, who collects and reports them, and how the program is administered. The bill has undergone multiple amendments and committee referrals, with ongoing proceedings as of June 2026. The core impact is on producers and associated entities who must pay or administer these processing fees, with broader implications for state program funding and recycling policy.

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

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