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HF 4565

Stewardship program for batteries established, mercury in batteries prohibited, lead acid batteries and rechargeable consumer products provisions modified, rulemaking authorized, and money appropriated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Patty Acomb and 4 co-sponsors

Establishes a battery stewardship program to manage end-of-life batteries, ban mercury in batteries, adjust lead-acid/rechargeable-product rules, and fund implementation through ru

Author added Pursell
#appropriations #environment #wasteandwastemanagement
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 4565

Summary of HF 4565 (2025-2026) – Minnesota

Purpose and intent

HF 4565 establishes a state stewardship program for batteries and implements prohibitions and modifications related to mercury in batteries, as well as lead-acid batteries and rechargeable consumer products. The bill authorizes rulemaking to implement these provisions and provides appropriations to support the program. The overarching goal is to reduce environmental harm from improper battery disposal and to create a structured system for end-of-life battery management.

Key provisions and changes

  • Stewardship program for batteries established

    • Creates or designates a battery stewardship program to manage end-of-life batteries.
    • Likely involves industry participants (sponsors or stewards) who are responsible for the collection, recycling, and proper disposal of batteries after consumer use.
    • Aims to ensure convenient take-back options, proper processing, and funding mechanisms for program administration and recycling.

  • Mercury in batteries prohibited

    • Prohibits the sale or distribution of products containing mercury used in batteries, or imposes restrictions on mercury-containing batteries.
    • Seeks to reduce mercury contamination risk and aligns with broader state, national, or international efforts to eliminate mercury in consumer products.

  • Lead-acid batteries and rechargeable consumer products provisions modified

    • Amends existing requirements related to lead-acid batteries and rechargeable consumer products.
    • May adjust:
    • Collection and recycling obligations
    • Labeling, reporting, or registration requirements for producers or custodians
    • Fees or funding mechanisms to support stewardship and recycling infrastructure

  • Rulemaking authorized

    • Grants authority to adopt rules to implement and enforce the battery stewardship program and related prohibitions.
    • Likely outlines rulemaking timelines, standards for acceptable stewardship plans, reporting requirements, and enforcement mechanisms.

  • Money appropriated

    • Provides state funding to support the program, rulemaking, and administration.
    • Appropriations may cover staffing, program administration, grants to local programs, public outreach, and data tracking systems.

Who is affected

  • Manufacturers and brand owners of batteries and rechargeable products
    • May have new or revised responsibilities for funding, program participation, and reporting.
  • Retailers and distributors
    • Potential obligations to communicate take-back options and comply with program requirements.
  • Consumers
    • Could benefit from convenient battery take-back options and safer disposal practices.
  • Local governments and waste management entities
    • May coordinate with the stewardship program for collection events and recycling infrastructure.
  • Environment and public health
    • Expected improvement in reducing hazardous mercury and improper disposal, with increased recycling of lead-acid and other batteries.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced and referred to committee
    • Introduced and assigned to the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy committee (as of March 23, 2026).
  • Author added
    • Pursell added as an author (March 25, 2026), with additional co-sponsors named.
  • Rulemaking timeline
    • The bill authorizes rulemaking to implement provisions; specific timelines would be established in the final rulemaking language.
  • Funding
    • Any appropriations are subject to the state budgeting process and subsequent legislative adoption of the funding levels and allocations.

Additional context notes

  • The bill’s full text would specify:
    • Definitions (e.g., what constitutes a battery, rechargeable product, and “stewardship program” participant)
    • Details of stewardship plan requirements, performance metrics, and compliance deadlines
    • Penalties or enforcement remedies for noncompliance
    • Transitional provisions and applicability dates for different battery types

This summary captures the bill’s core aims and components based on the title and available action history. For a complete understanding, the full text and any fiscal notes or committee amendments should be reviewed once available.

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

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