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A 3876

Increases the amount of allowance that trial and grand jurors are entitled to in each court of the unified court system

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Burdick and 13 co-sponsors

Shifts end-of-life battery responsibility to manufacturers, expands covered batteries, and requires DEP-approved plans with wide drop-off sites, banning curbside collection.

PRINT NUMBER 3876A
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 3876

Summary — A3876 (Print No. 3876A)

Short title / subject: Updates the "Dry Cell Battery Management Act" (P.L.1991, c.521) to expand the types of batteries covered, require manufacturer battery management plans approved by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), change collection rules, and repeal specified statutory requirements.

Purpose: Modernize New Jersey’s battery disposal law to cover a broader range of rechargeable and non‑rechargeable batteries (including larger portable and medium‑format batteries), shift primary responsibility to manufacturers for end‑of‑life management, and strengthen collection infrastructure and consumer access to safe collection.

Key provisions and changes

  • Replaces the law’s current focus on specific chemistries (mercuric oxide, nickel‑cadmium, sealed lead) with the term “covered battery,” defined by size and energy:
    • Portable battery: rechargeable <11 pounds and <300 Wh, or primary <4.4 pounds.
    • Medium format battery: rechargeable 11–25 pounds or 300–2000 Wh; primary 4.4–25 pounds.
    • General cap for covered batteries: up to 25 pounds or up to 2000 watt‑hours (where applicable).
  • Exemptions: batteries in certain medical devices; batteries with free liquid electrolyte; lead‑acid batteries >11 pounds; vehicle batteries or OEM vehicle components; and manufacturer‑recalled batteries for safety reasons.
  • Manufacturer requirements:
    • Each manufacturer of a covered battery must submit a DEP‑approved battery management plan.
    • Plans must be submitted no later than nine months after the bill’s enactment.
    • Plans must include, among other items, provision of permanent collection sites so that at least one site is within a 15‑mile radius of no less than 95% of State residents, and within 25 miles of each resident.
  • Collection rules:
    • Prohibits curbside recycling collection of covered batteries (i.e., prohibits collection via municipal curbside recycling).
  • Changes to retailer and product rules:
    • Deletes existing statutory requirements that retailers accept used nickel‑cadmium and sealed‑lead rechargeable batteries from customers and that they post specified signage.
    • Repeals (removes) sections 6 and 10 of P.L.1991, c.521 — including the current prohibition on selling certain rechargeable consumer products unless batteries are readily removable (i.e., removing the removable‑battery sales restriction).

Who is affected

  • Manufacturers: primary new obligations to prepare and finance DEP‑approved battery management plans and provide collection infrastructure.
  • Consumers: will rely more on established collection/drop‑off sites (not curbside); potentially easier access due to mileage/site targets.
  • Retailers and distributors: removal of some current take‑back and signage duties; potential changes to sales/stocking requirements.
  • DEP: authority to review and approve management plans and oversee compliance.
  • Municipalities and recycling/collection service providers: changes in collection roles due to curbside prohibition.

Timeline and procedural status

  • Introduced in Assembly: 2024‑02‑27.
  • Reported favorably by Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee: 2024‑03‑04 (then referred to Telecommunications & Utilities).
  • Referred to Judiciary: 2025‑01‑30.
  • Print No. 3876A issued and amended/recommitted to Judiciary: 2025‑02‑21.
  • Requirement in bill: manufacturers must submit plans within nine months after enactment.

Related and prior legislation

  • Companion: S3043 (and S4998 entries noted).
  • Prior‑session related bills: A10727, A2346.

Potential impacts (practical considerations)

  • Environmental/public‑safety: tighter control over a broader set of batteries may reduce hazardous waste disposal and fire risks in curbside systems and landfills.
  • Costs and compliance: manufacturers likely incur program and infrastructure costs; potential for fees or producer responsibility financing mechanisms (details to be defined in plans).
  • Convenience: intended to improve consumer access to drop‑off sites (15‑mile/25‑mile targets), but eliminates municipal curbside collection as an option.

(Prepared from the bill text, committee statement, and legislative action history.)

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

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