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AB 643

Relating to: the establishment of November 11 as a day on which the offices of the agencies of state government are closed. (FE)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Clint Anderson and 42 co-sponsors

Allows local jurisdictions to count treated organic waste used as approved agricultural amendments toward their recovered organic waste procurement targets.

Read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs
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Bill Summary · AB 643

AB 643 — Climate change: short-lived climate pollutants: organic waste reduction

Author: Wilson | Introduced: February 13, 2025
Status: In committee (hearing postponed) — most recent committee hearing postponements 2025-03-24, 2025-04-08, 2025-04-21

Purpose / Intent

AB 643 amends Section 42652.5 of the Public Resources Code to clarify and expand what counts toward a local jurisdiction’s recovered organic waste product procurement target. Specifically, it authorizes local jurisdictions to count organic material that is used as a beneficial agricultural amendment — when processed and licensed under specified state requirements — toward their procurement targets. The bill also makes a nonsubstantive wording change related to local jurisdiction authority.

Key provisions

  • Amends PRC §42652.5 to allow a local jurisdiction to include as part of its recovered organic waste procurement target:
    • Organic material that is used as a beneficial agricultural amendment, provided:
    • The material is processed at a facility authorized by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) using department-approved technologies; and
    • The material is licensed for end use as an agricultural fertilizer by the Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
  • Retains existing regulatory framework requiring CalRecycle, in consultation with the Air Resources Board, to adopt regulations to achieve statewide organic waste reduction goals (including goals set in Health & Safety Code §39730.6).
  • Preserves other existing statutory elements in §42652.5, including:
    • A requirement that at least 20% of edible food currently disposed be recovered for human consumption by 2025.
    • Flexibility for phased compliance and differentiated requirements based on jurisdictional progress.
    • Penalty schedule and procurement milestones (30% target by Jan 1, 2023; 65% by Jan 1, 2024; 100% by Jan 1, 2025) for jurisdictions failing to meet recovered organic waste procurement targets.
    • Rural exemption provisions (jurisdictions with certain rural exemptions remain exempt from collection and procurement requirements until Jan 1, 2037, with renewal processes).
    • Authority for local jurisdictions to charge fees to recover compliance costs.

Who is affected

  • Local jurisdictions (counties, cities) — gain additional, regulated options to meet procurement targets.
  • CalRecycle — implements and enforces regulatory criteria for facilities and allowable technologies.
  • CDFA — evaluates and licenses organic materials for use as agricultural fertilizers.
  • Organics processors and composting/digestion facilities — may see increased demand if they meet facility/technology authorization requirements and CDFA licensing.
  • Agricultural users/farmers — may receive eligible beneficial amendments recognized for local procurement goals.

Potential impact

  • Provides jurisdictions additional flexibility to comply with recovered organic waste procurement obligations by recognizing agricultural-use organic amendments that meet state processing and licensing standards.
  • May expand markets for appropriately processed organics and encourage investment in approved processing technologies and CDFA licensing.
  • Ensures counted uses meet state environmental and product-safety standards (processing authorization + CDFA fertilizer licensing).

Procedural history (selected)

  • 2025-02-13: Read first time; to print.
  • 2025-02-14: From printer.
  • 2025-03-24: Amended and re‑referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
  • 2025-03-25: Re‑referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
  • 2025-04-08 & 2025-04-21: Committee hearings postponed.

Other notes

  • Digest indicates majority vote, no appropriation required.
  • The bill does not change the substantive procurement schedule or penalty framework in §42652.5 beyond adding the accounting option described above.

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

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