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MaineLD 1564132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act to Delay Implementation of Certain Recent Changes to the Beverage Container Redemption Law and to Make Other Necessary Changes to That Law

Sponsored By: Michael Soboleski (Republican)

Became Law

CONTAINERS - RETURNABLECONTAINERS - RETURNABLE - BOTTLES

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.

Limits on unclaimed deposit spending

Beginning June 10, 2025, when the cooperative owns unclaimed deposits under an approved plan, it may spend them only on listed program needs. It cannot use them for legal or lobbying fees or fines. It must set aside at least $500,000 each year for refillable and reusable containers. It must also pay $500,000 each year to the Cost and Carbon Efficient Technology Fund.

Beverage brands: label and reporting rules

Beginning June 10, 2025, initiators must register container labels with the department by July 15, 2026. Each registration includes the UPC for each beverage and container, a collection agent, all commingling agreement parties, and proof of that agreement, with annual renewal or when details change; a fee may apply before July 15, 2026. If you filed a §3119 report before July 15, 2025 and marked parts as proprietary, the department keeps those parts confidential under section 1310-B. The law removes the first blocked paragraphs of §3119 subsections 1 and 2, ending those specific reporting duties.

Processing payment talks delayed, state rules

Beginning June 10, 2025, the cooperative delays processing‑payment negotiations with dealers and redemption centers until July 15, 2026. The department sets rules for recycling value and may use a third party to decide improper processing and related issues.

Redemption centers: license, pickup, and sorting

Beginning June 10, 2025, an owner renewing a center licensed by April 1, 2009 does not have to meet licensing subsection 3. The law defines who picks up containers: a commingling group (or its agent) until an approved cooperative plan is in place, and then the cooperative (or its agents). The department sets pickup frequency and related rules. The program must move centers from brand-based sorting to material-type sorting by October 1, 2026. For manual sorting, that means sorting by size and deposit value; the program pays any brand data collection costs.

More time to launch bottle program

Beginning June 10, 2025, the cooperative must implement an approved plan by January 15, 2026. The department reviews a plan within 120 days, holds a public hearing, and if the plan is not implemented by January 15, 2026, initiators are penalized and cannot sell the affected containers. The department’s convenience-standard rules do not start before January 15, 2026. Until January 15, 2026, unclaimed deposits on commingled nonrefillable containers belong to the commingling group; after that, if no approved plan is running, unclaimed deposits go to the Beverage Container Enforcement Fund or are held by commingling groups as directed. The cooperative’s oversight fee is due by October 31, 2025, and part may be due at plan submission. Two listed statutory repeals are pushed to July 15, 2026. These timing rules apply retroactively to January 1, 2025.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Michael Soboleski

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 241

    5/1/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence.

    6/3/2025Senate

  3. This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary.PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/3/2025House

  4. Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-415) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-415), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith.

    6/2/2025Senate

  5. CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-415).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/2/2025House

  6. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES in concurrence

    4/10/2025Senate

  7. Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/10/2025House

Bill Text

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