Bill > SB615

This bill requires companies that supply electric vehicle batteries in California—referred to as battery suppliers—and companies that rebuild these batteries—known as remanufacturers—to register with the State Air Resources Board, the state agency responsible for regulating air pollution and motor vehicle emissions. Starting July 1, 2028, the legislation mandates that new vehicle traction batteries, which are the high-capacity battery packs used to power electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, must feature a permanent and visible exterior label containing specific information such as the manufacturer's name, production date, chemical composition, hazardous materials, and safety or recycling instructions, though companies are permitted to use a quick response (QR) code linking to an internet website for much of this technical data. Additionally, remanufacturers must update these labels or add their own branding whenever a battery is rebuilt or chemically altered. To cover the state's costs for administering and enforcing these rules, the bill requires battery suppliers to pay an annual fee starting July 1, 2029, which will be calculated using a tiered fee schedule based on each supplier's historical market share of registered electric vehicles in California and deposited into a newly created Vehicle Traction Battery Recovery Fund. Finally, the legislation directs the State Air Resources Board to formally adopt comprehensive implementing regulations by July 1, 2031, though the board's duties under the bill remain strictly dependent on the Legislature first appropriating funds for these purposes.