HF4565

Purpose

• Establish a stewardship program for batteries to improve environmental protection, battery recycling, and end-of-life management.
• Prohibit the use of mercury in batteries.
• Modify provisions related to lead-acid batteries and rechargeable consumer products to align with the new stewardship framework.
• Authorize the agency to adopt rules and provide funding to implement the program.

Main Provisions

• Creates a battery stewardship program that assigns responsibilities to manufacturers or other entities to manage batteries after consumer use.
• Prohibits mercury in batteries.
• Updates and refines existing laws for lead-acid batteries and rechargeable consumer products to fit the new program.
• Gives the state agency authority to adopt rules to carry out the program.
• Appropriates money to support the program’s implementation and administration.
• Amends multiple Minnesota Statutes (adding subdivisions and creating new sections) to establish and codify the new battery-related requirements.
• Repeals several existing statutory provisions to replace them with the new framework.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a new framework (battery stewardship program) that shifts certain responsibilities to manufacturers or program administrators for the end-of-life management of batteries.
• Adds new subdivisions and sections in various chapters (including 115A, 116, 325E) to govern the program and related activities.
• Repeals several existing sections (e.g., 115A.9155, 115A.961 subdivisions, 325E.115 and other related provisions) to consolidate authority under the new program.
• Expands the state’s enforcement toolkit for pollution control, explicitly listing criminal prosecution, civil penalties, injunctions, and other measures as remedies for violations of the environmental laws within the act.

Implementation and Oversight

• Authorizes rulemaking to implement the program.
• Includes funding appropriations to support administration, enforcement, and program activities.
• The bill references the agency’s enforcement powers and the ability to pursue remedies under existing environmental statutes.

Expected Impacts

• Reduction in mercury use in batteries and improved environmental outcomes from better end-of-life management.
• Clarified responsibilities for manufacturers and program administrators.
• A revised legal framework that consolidates battery-related environmental provisions under a single stewardship approach.
• Potential financial and regulatory effects on manufacturers, retailers, and collection/recycling programs.

---

Relevant Terms - battery stewardship program - mercury in batteries - lead-acid batteries - rechargeable consumer products - rulemaking - appropriation / funding - Minnesota Statutes 2024 - amendments (subdivisions and new sections) - repeals of existing sections - environmental remedies - pollution control - criminal prosecution - civil penalties - injunctions - compliance and permits