WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SF 5211

Environment and Natural Resources provisions and modifications

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Foung Hawj

The bill creates a centralized Covered Battery Stewardship Program requiring producers, collectors, and a clearinghouse to fund, manage, and enforce statewide battery collection an

Referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy
#environment #naturalresourcesandnaturalresourcesdepartment
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SF 5211

Summary of SF 5211 (2025-2026) — Environment and Natural Resources provisions and modifications (Minnesota)

This bill focuses on expanding state environmental programs, modernizing regulatory frameworks, and creating a comprehensive system for battery stewardship and related pollution responses. It combines appropriations, program creation, and regulatory updates across several ENR programs.

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish and fund stewardship programs for batteries and electronic products.
  • Update acquisition provisions and modify state park governance, land dispositions, and surplus land transactions.
  • Improve preparedness and response to pollutant releases; adjust cost recovery for cleanup activities.
  • Authorize rulemaking and update various statutory provisions related to environmental protection and resources management.

Key Provisions and Changes

Article 1 — ENR Appropriations

  • Budget allocations (biennial) to:
    • Pollution Control Agency: $50,000 in 2027 for air compliance equipment maintenance (on a separate environmental fund line).
    • Department of Natural Resources: $1.5 million in 2026 for one-time public safety costs.
    • Zoological Board: $3.8 million in 2026 (one-time).
    • Metropolitan Council-related appropriations (existing programs): integrally adjusts funding remittances, including nature-based and infrastructure-related grants and onetime capital allocations (e.g., tree planting, fishing piers, and specific city projects).
    • Transfers and one-time appropriations for Cedar Riverside Recreation Center design/construction (Metropolitan Council/Economic Development), with a sunset/expiration tied to 2028.
  • Effective the day after final enactment.

Article 2 — Pollution Control and ENR Regulatory Updates

  • 115A Battery Stewardship Provisions (new framework)

    • Defines key terms: battery, covered battery, collection site, covered battery collector, covered battery producer, clearinghouse, stewardship organizations, and related program concepts.
    • Establishes a comprehensive Covered Battery Stewardship Program, including clear roles for producers, collectors, clearinghouse, and stewardship organizations.
    • Creates the Covered Battery Reimbursement Board to set and adjust reimbursement rates for collectors; board composition includes representatives from household hazardous waste programs, collectors, and producers.
    • Sets performance standards for collection, transport, storage, and safety; requires accessible statewide collection and consideration of environmental justice and small business participation.
    • Requires annual and periodic reporting, including chemistry-by-weight data, budgetary planning, and audit requirements.
    • Mandates public advisory committee involvement and public notices.
    • Requires the clearinghouse to provide reimbursement to collectors, collect data, ensure safety training, signage, and educational materials in multiple languages, and ensure easy access to collection sites.

  • Fees and cost recovery

    • Establishes an administrative fee mechanism to reimburse state agency costs of implementing sections 115A.1331 to 115A.1347.
    • Sets a recovery and management fee mechanism for actual costs of recovering and properly managing covered batteries; fee adjustments based on actual costs and annual audits.

  • Enforcement and penalties

    • Extends enforcement remedies for pollution control to new and amended sections, with certain effective dates (notably effective January 1, 2030 for some remedies and January 1, 2030 for related penalties).

  • 115A.1339 Fees

    • Administrative fees to fund program administration, payable by the Covered Battery Clearinghouse, with quarterly/semiannual billing and annual reporting.

  • 115A.1341 Duties of collectors

    • Requirements for accepting, storing, training, and reporting on covered batteries; household hazardous waste programs may participate under defined terms.
    • Establishes requirement for safe handling, documentation of nonacceptance, and coordination for alternate collection if a site cannot safely collect.

Who Is Affected

  • Covered Battery Producers: Must contract with stewardship organizations and participate in the clearinghouse system.
  • Covered Battery Collectors: Must accept batteries, store safely, train staff, and receive reimbursement; may be subject to performance standards and potential termination for noncompliance.
  • Covered Battery Clearinghouse and Stewardship Organizations: Central administrative body coordinating plans, budgets, reporting, and compliance; liable for ensuring program-wide standards.
  • Local governments, environmental justice communities, and the general public: Benefit from expanded, convenient battery collection, robust education, and accountability for waste management.
  • State agencies (PCA, DNR) and Metropolitan Council: Receive funding adjustments and new cost-recovery mechanisms.

Timeline and Procedural Aspects

  • Effective dates generally follow enactment; several 2026–2027 milestones exist for program formation, board appointments (by 2027), and initial plan submission.
  • By July 1, 2027: producers must contract with stewardship organizations; clearinghouse must be identified.
  • By January 1, 2029: single stewardship plan required; oversight and implementation to follow.
  • Ongoing: annual reporting, budget submissions, and periodic performance audits; reimbursement rates updated annually with a potential for more frequent updates for good cause.

This bill signals Minnesota’s move toward a centralized, producer-resourced approach to battery stewardship, with explicit consumer protections, environmental justice commitments, and structured cost recovery and accountability.

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

Sign in to ask a question.