Bill > SB0416

This bill expands Michigan's existing bottle deposit law by creating several new funds and modifying existing regulations around beverage container recycling. The bill modifies the definition of "beverage" to include more types of drinks like hard cider and expands the types of beverage containers covered, while also explicitly excluding certain containers like milk cartons and large juice containers. It establishes a new beverage container handling fund that will distribute money to various state agencies and programs, including 1.5% to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy for staffing, 6% for marketing and compliance, and 85% to a new resource recovery fund for system improvement grants. The bill creates additional funds like a water security fund to support water affordability programs and a bottle bill enforcement fund to support enforcement efforts by the state police and attorney general. A key provision requires the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to publish annual performance data about the deposit return system, including tracking a target 85% return rate for beverage containers. The bill is subject to a statewide referendum in the November 2026 election and would take effect 6 months after voter approval if passed.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-SB-0416