Bill > S0912

Introduced Session

An act relating to battery collection and recovery; creating s. 403.71871, F.S.; providing a short title; creating s. 403.71872, F.S.; defining terms; creating s. 403.71873, F.S.; requiring a producer to fulfill certain requirements, beginning on a specified date, before selling, offering for sale, or distributing for sale in this state any covered battery or battery containing product; providing applicability; authorizing the department to amend by rule certain provisions for a certain purpose; requiring certain producers to list certain information on a battery beginning on a specified date; prohibiting a producer, retailer, or battery stewardship organization (BSO) from charging a certain fee to consumers; creating s. 403.71874, F.S.; requiring a BSO operating in this state to submit a battery stewardship plan to the Department of Environmental Protection for review and approval, beginning on a specified date; providing requirements for the plan; providing a term of validity for the plan; requiring a BSO with an approved plan to take certain actions; requiring the department to make a certain determination regarding a battery stewardship plan or plan amendment within a specified timeframe; providing certain requirements for the department and a BSO in the event a battery stewardship plan or amendment is denied; creating s. 403.71875, F.S.; providing fiscal duties for a BSO implementing an approved battery stewardship plan; creating s. 403.71876, F.S.; requiring a BSO to take certain actions to implement an approved battery stewardship plan; defining the term “damaged and defective batteries”; authorizing a BSO implementing an approved battery stewardship plan to issue a warning for the suspension or termination of certain collection sites or services; providing that a BSO is not required to provide for the collection of batteries, battery-containing products, or covered batteries if such batteries or products are recalled for safety reasons; authorizing a BSO to seek reimbursement from the producer of such batteries or battery-containing products for certain costs; creating s. 403.71877, F.S.; requiring a BSO to take certain actions to promote the implementation of an approved battery stewardship plan; creating s. 403.71878, F.S.; requiring a BSO to submit a report to the department annually beginning on a specified date; providing requirements for such report; requiring a BSO to hire an independent third party to audit the battery stewardship plan and plan operation within a specified timeframe after the implementation of an approved battery stewardship plan; providing requirements for such audit; requiring a BSO to submit a copy of the audit to the department; creating s. 403.71879, F.S.; requiring the department to include certain information on its website relating to battery stewardship plans; creating s. 403.71881, F.S.; providing that a producer, retailer, or BSO is not liable for any claim of a violation of antitrust laws or laws relating to fraudulent, deceptive, or unfair methods of competition or trade practices; creating s. 403.71882, F.S.; authorizing a person or recycler to offer or perform fee-based household battery collection services or mail-back battery collection services independently of a BSO if certain conditions are met; authorizing a BSO to refuse to accept batteries from any such person or recycler if the department is notified of the reason for such refusal; authorizing such person or recycler to recycle covered batteries if such person or recycler provides annual collection and recycling data to the department; providing requirements for such data; prohibiting such person or recycler from receiving compensation from a BSO for certain batteries, unless otherwise agreed; creating s. 403.71883, F.S.; providing requirements for the disposal and management of covered batteries, beginning on a specified date; providing an exception for an owner or operator of a solid waste facility or a solid waste collector under certain circumstances; prohibiting a BSO from refusing to accept certain covered batteries unless the BSO provides certain notice to the department; creating s. 403.71884, F.S.; providing civil and criminal penalties; authorizing the Attorney General and certain county attorneys to bring certain actions; authorizing a BSO to bring a civil action against certain producers; providing construction; authorizing a BSO to bring a civil action against another BSO under certain circumstances; repealing s. 403.7192, F.S., relating to batteries and the penalties for violations of certain requirements for consumers, manufacturers, and sellers; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Stan McClain (R)*, 

Other Sponsors (1)

CS by Environment and Natural Resources read 1st time (on 02/10/2026)

Official Document