PRIA Logo™
OregonHB 41442026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Relating to batteries.

Sponsored By: Courtney Neron Misslin (Democratic), Emerson Levy (Democratic), Hai Pham (Democratic), Janeen Sollman (Democratic), Sue Rieke Smith (Democratic)

Became Law

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.

Education, hotline, and website

Producer groups must run public education and ads and give materials to sellers and drop‑off sites. They must provide a toll‑free phone number and a website with collection info. Materials must reach rural, low‑income, and other underserved communities. They must also survey public awareness every two years and share one statewide web address.

Free, convenient battery drop-off

The law sets up a free, statewide drop-off network for portable batteries. At least 95% of residents must live within 15 miles of a site. Medium‑format and damaged batteries are taken at no charge through each county’s household hazardous waste site or county events held each year. Producer groups must provide containers, trained staff, and cover all costs.

No checkout fees for recycling

Producers cannot add a battery recycling fee at the point of sale. Producer groups set membership fees that producers pay to fund the program. Fee schedules can reward better product design.

Collaboration and data protections

Producers who work together in a required organization to plan and run the program are exempt from Oregon antitrust laws for that work. The law also seeks federal antitrust protection for this limited collaboration. Producers and their organizations can ask DEQ to keep submitted records confidential when harm from disclosure outweighs the public interest. DEQ may still share summarized data that does not identify anyone.

Don’t toss batteries in trash

You may not knowingly throw a covered battery into regular trash. Disposal site owners avoid violation if they post a clear sign that directs people to the battery return program.

Producers must join and plan

Battery brands that sell in Oregon must join an approved producer organization. The group must file a program plan with DEQ; DEQ acts within 90 days, and 60 or 45 days on revisions. Plans last three program years. Major program changes need preapproval, with requests usually filed 60 days ahead. First plans are due by September 1, 2028, and programs must be operating by July 1, 2029.

State fees and fund for program

The state sets a plan review fee and an annual fee that producer organizations must pay to cover DEQ’s costs. Money goes into a new Battery Producer Responsibility Fund that DEQ can use to run the program. The Environmental Quality Commission can adopt rules to make the program work. DEQ’s spending limit rises by $142,317 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027 to support startup work.

Safety standards, reporting, and fines

Producer groups and their sites must follow safe, responsible battery handling, track where batteries go, protect workers, and carry insurance. Each year they must file an audited financial report; DEQ reviews it within 90 days and may publish it. DEQ can inspect, require records kept at least three years, and order fixes. Civil penalties can be up to $1,000 per day, and up to $10,000 per day for selling without joining a required organization. DEQ can suspend or revoke plans for serious problems.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Courtney Neron Misslin

    Democratic • Senate

  • Emerson Levy

    Democratic • House

  • Hai Pham

    Democratic • House

  • Janeen Sollman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sue Rieke Smith

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Anthony Broadman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Bobby Levy

    Republican • House

  • David Gomberg

    Democratic • House

  • Deb Patterson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Floyd Prozanski

    Democratic • Senate

  • John Lively

    Democratic • House

  • Jules Walters

    Democratic • House

  • Ken Helm

    Democratic • House

  • Khanh Pham

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lew Frederick

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Fragala

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa Reynolds

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mark Gamba

    Democratic • House

  • Nancy Nathanson

    Democratic • House

  • Pam Marsh

    Democratic • House

  • Sarah McDonald

    Democratic • House

  • Shannon Isadore

    Democratic • House

  • Tom Andersen

    Democratic • House

  • Travis Nelson

    Democratic • House

  • Willy Chotzen

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 116 • No: 12

Senate vote • 3/5/2026

Third reading. Carried by Neron Misslin. Passed.

Yes: 20 • No: 8

House vote • 2/27/2026

Third reading. Carried by Levy E. Passed.

Yes: 42 • No: 0

legislature vote • 2/25/2026

Ways and Means: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 42 • No: 4

House vote • 2/12/2026

Climate, Energy, and Environment: Heard and Reported Out

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 119, (2026 Laws): Effective date January 1, 2027.

    4/13/2026House

  2. Governor signed.

    4/7/2026House

  3. President signed.

    3/10/2026Senate

  4. Speaker signed.

    3/10/2026House

  5. Third reading. Carried by Neron Misslin. Passed.

    3/5/2026Senate

  6. Carried over to 03-05 by unanimous consent.

    3/4/2026Senate

  7. Second reading.

    3/3/2026Senate

  8. Recommendation: Do pass the A-Eng. bill.

    3/3/2026Senate

  9. Referred to Ways and Means.

    3/2/2026Senate

  10. First reading. Referred to President's desk.

    3/2/2026Senate

  11. Third reading. Carried by Levy E. Passed.

    2/27/2026House

  12. Second reading.

    2/26/2026House

  13. Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed A-Engrossed.

    2/25/2026House

  14. Work Session held.

    2/25/2026House

  15. Returned to Full Committee.

    2/23/2026House

  16. Work Session held.

    2/23/2026House

  17. Assigned to Subcommittee On Natural Resources.

    2/18/2026House

  18. Referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.

    2/13/2026House

  19. Recommendation: Do pass and be referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.

    2/13/2026House

  20. Work Session held.

    2/12/2026House

  21. Public Hearing held.

    2/5/2026House

  22. Referred to Climate, Energy, and Environment with subsequent referral to Ways and Means.

    2/2/2026House

  23. First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

    2/2/2026House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    3/6/2026

    PDF

  • A-Engrossed

    2/25/2026

    PDF

  • House Amendments to Introduced

    2/25/2026

    PDF

  • JWM Amendment -1 (Adopted)

    2/25/2026

    PDF

  • JWMNR Amendment -1 (Proposed)

    2/23/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/28/2026

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation