Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB69 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb0069
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 69
8	8	M3 5lr1539
9	9	HB 168/24 – ENT & ECM (PRE–FILED)
10	10	By: Delegates Terrasa, Charkoudian, Feldmark, Foley, Kaufman, Lehman,
11	11	Mireku–North, Palakovich Carr, Ruth, Solomon, Vogel, and Wu
12	12	Requested: October 31, 2024
13	13	Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
14	14	Assigned to: Environment and Transportation and Economic Matters
15	15
16	16	A BILL ENTITLED
17	17
18	18	AN ACT concerning 1
19	19
20	20	Environment – Plastic Products – Postconsumer Recycled Content Program 2
21	21
22	22	FOR the purpose of prohibiting certain producers of certain plastic products from selling, 3
23	23	offering for sale, or distributing the products to any person in the State unless certain 4
24	24	conditions are met; requiring certain producers of certain plastic products to, 5
25	25	individually or as part of a representative organization, register and pay a certain 6
26	26	fee annually to the Department of the Environment; establishing certain minimum 7
27	27	postconsumer recycled content percentage requirements for certain plastic beverage 8
28	28	containers and rigid plastic containers; authorizing the Department to grant a 9
29	29	certain waiver under certain circumstances; authorizing the Department to conduct 10
30	30	certain audits and investigations and to participate in a certain multistate 11
31	31	clearinghouse; requiring the Department to publish on its website certain 12
32	32	information; authorizing the Department to grant a reduction in certain 13
33	33	administrative penalties under certain circumstances; and generally relating to 14
34	34	plastic products and postconsumer recycled content. 15
35	35
36	36	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 16
37	37	Article – Environment 17
38	38	Section 9–1702(a) 18
39	39	Annotated Code of Maryland 19
40	40	(2014 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20
41	41
42	42	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 21
43	43	Article – Environment 22
44	44	Section 9–1702(d) and 9–1707(f) 23
45	45	Annotated Code of Maryland 24
46	46	(2014 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 25
47	47
48	48	BY adding to 26 2 HOUSE BILL 69
49	49
50	50
51	51	Article – Environment 1
52	52	Section 9–2701 through 9–2710 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 27. 2
53	53	Postconsumer Recycled Content Program” 3
54	54	Annotated Code of Maryland 4
55	55	(2014 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 5
56	56
57	57	Preamble 6
58	58
59	59	WHEREAS, Minimum recycled content requirements in plastic containers protect 7
60	60	the environment and conserve resources by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy 8
61	61	consumption associated with the extraction of fossil fuels and production of new plastic, 9
62	62	and by diverting waste from landfills and incinerators; and 10
63	63
64	64	WHEREAS, Minimum recycled content requirements in plastic containers increase 11
65	65	and create a stable demand for recycled plastics, strengthen recycled commodity values, 12
66	66	increase economic growth, create jobs in the plastics recycling industry, and create 13
67	67	incentives for producers to redesign their products to be more recyclable; and 14
68	68
69	69	WHEREAS, The Department of the Environment’s Office of Recycling is required to 15
70	70	promote the development of markets for recycled materials and recycled products in the 16
71	71	State in accordance with § 9–1702(d) of the Environment Article; now, therefore, 17
72	72
73	73	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
74	74	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
75	75
76	76	Article – Environment 20
77	77
78	78	9–1702. 21
79	79
80	80	(a) There is an Office of Recycling created within the Department. 22
81	81
82	82	(d) The Office shall: 23
83	83
84	84	(1) Assist the counties in developing an acceptable recycling plan required 24
85	85	under § 9–1703 of this subtitle and § 9–505 of this title, including technical assistance to 25
86	86	the local governments; 26
87	87
88	88	(2) Coordinate the efforts of the State to facilitate the implementation of 27
89	89	the recycling goals at the county level; 28
90	90
91	91	(3) Review all recycling plans submitted as part of a county plan as 29
92	92	required under § 9–505 of this title and advise the Secretary on the adequacy of the 30
93	93	recycling plan; 31
94	94
95	95	(4) Administer the Statewide Electronics Recycling Program under Part IV 32
96	96	of this subtitle; 33
97	97	HOUSE BILL 69 3
98	98
99	99
100	100	(5) ADMINISTER THE POSTCONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT 1
101	101	PROGRAM UNDER SUBTITLE 27 OF THIS TITLE; 2
102	102
103	103	[(5)] (6) Promote the development of markets for recycled materials and 3
104	104	recycled products in the State in accordance with § 9–1702.1 of this subtitle; and 4
105	105
106	106	[(6)] (7) Review and approve plans and annual reports, including the 5
107	107	paint stewardship assessment, submitted in accordance with a Paint Stewardship Program 6
108	108	established under Part V of this subtitle. 7
109	109
110	110	9–1707. 8
111	111
112	112	(f) (1) There is a State Recycling Trust Fund. 9
113	113
114	114	(2) The Fund shall consist of: 10
115	115
116	116	(i) The newsprint recycling incentive fee; 11
117	117
118	118	(ii) The telephone directory recycling incentive fee collected under § 12
119	119	9–1709 of this subtitle; 13
120	120
121	121	(iii) The covered electronic device manufacturer registration fee 14
122	122	collected under § 9–1728 of this subtitle; 15
123	123
124	124	(iv) The Paint Stewardship Program plan and annual report review 16
125	125	fees collected under § 9–1733(b) and (h) of this subtitle; 17
126	126
127	127	(V) THE POSTCONSUMER RECY CLED CONTENT REGISTRATION 18
128	128	FEES COLLECTED UNDER § 9–2703 OF THIS TITLE; 19
129	129
130	130	[(v)] (VI) All fines and penalties collected under this subtitle AND § 20
131	131	9–2710 OF THIS TITLE; 21
132	132
133	133	[(vi)] (VII) Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and 22
134	134
135	135	[(vii)] (VIII) Any other money from any other source accepted for the 23
136	136	benefit of the Fund. 24
137	137
138	138	(3) The Secretary shall administer the Fund. 25
139	139
140	140	(4) The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall 26
141	141	account for the Fund. 27
142	142
143	143	(5) [At] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (7) OF THIS 28
144	144	SUBSECTION, AT the end of each fiscal year, any unspent or unencumbered balance in the 29 4 HOUSE BILL 69
145	145
146	146
147	147	Fund that exceeds $2,000,000 shall revert to the General Fund of the State in accordance 1
148	148	with § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. 2
149	149
150	150	(6) In accordance with the State budget, the Fund shall be used only: 3
151	151
152	152	(i) To provide grants to the counties to be used by the counties to 4
153	153	develop and implement local recycling plans; 5
154	154
155	155	(ii) To provide grants to counties that have addressed methods for 6
156	156	the separate collection and recycling of covered electronic devices in accordance with § 7
157	157	9–1703(c)(1) of this subtitle; 8
158	158
159	159	(iii) To provide grants to municipalities to be used by the 9
160	160	municipalities to implement local covered electronic device recycling programs; 10
161	161
162	162	(IV) TO COVER THE COSTS OF PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING , 11
163	163	ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND EVALUATING THE 12
164	164	POSTCONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER SUBTITLE 13
165	165	27 OF THIS TITLE; 14
166	166
167	167	[(iv)] (V) To cover the costs of the Paint Stewardship Program plan 15
168	168	review under § 9–1733(b) of this subtitle, the annual report review under § 9–1733(h) of 16
169	169	this subtitle, and associated costs for Program compliance oversight; and 17
170	170
171	171	[(v)] (VI) To carry out the purposes of the land management 18
172	172	administration. 19
173	173
174	174	(7) (I) THERE SHALL BE A SEPA RATE ACCOUNT WITHIN THE FUND. 20
175	175
176	176	(II) THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT SHALL CONSIST OF : 21
177	177
178	178	1. ANY FEES COLLECTED FR OM PRODUCERS OF 22
179	179	COVERED PRODUCTS UND ER § 9–2703 OF THIS TITLE; AND 23
180	180
181	181	2. ALL FINES AND PENALTI ES COLLECTED UNDER § 24
182	182	9–2710 OF THIS TITLE. 25
183	183
184	184	(III) THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT SHALL BE USED ONLY T O: 26
185	185
186	186	1. REIMBURSE THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE IN 27
187	187	ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–2703(A)(4)(II)1 OF THIS TITLE; AND 28
188	188
189	189	2. COVER THE COSTS OF PL ANNING, IMPLEMENTING , 29
190	190	ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND EVALUATING THE 30 HOUSE BILL 69 5
191	191
192	192
193	193	POSTCONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER SUBTITLE 1
194	194	27 OF THIS TITLE. 2
195	195
196	196	(IV) MONEY DEPOSITED INTO THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT IS NOT 3
197	197	SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE AND 4
198	198	MAY NOT REVERT TO TH E GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 5
199	199
200	200	[(7)] (8) (i) The Treasurer shall invest the money in the Fund in the 6
201	201	same manner as other State money may be invested. 7
202	202
203	203	(ii) Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be credited to 8
204	204	the General Fund of the State. 9
205	205
206	206	SUBTITLE 27. POSTCONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT PROGRAM. 10
207	207
208	208	9–2701. 11
209	209
210	210	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 12
211	211	INDICATED. 13
212	212
213	213	(B) “COVERED PRODUCT ” MEANS A PRODUCT THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE 14
214	214	POSTCONSUMER RECYCLE D CONTENT PERCENTAGE REQUIREMENTS ESTABLI SHED 15
215	215	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE . 16
216	216
217	217	(C) (1) “HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PR ODUCT” MEANS A PRODUCT THAT IS 17
218	218	LABELED OR MARKETED TO CLEAN, FRESHEN, OR REMOVE UNWANTED S UBSTANCES 18
219	219	SUCH AS DIRT , STAINS, OR OTHER IMPURITIES F ROM OBJECTS , INTERIOR OR 19
220	220	EXTERIOR STRUCTURES , VEHICLES, POSSESSIONS, AND OTHER ENVIRONMEN TS 20
221	221	ASSOCIATED WITH A HO USEHOLD. 21
222	222
223	223	(2) “HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PR ODUCT” INCLUDES: 22
224	224
225	225	(I) LIQUID SOAPS, LAUNDRY SOAPS , DETERGENTS , FABRIC 23
226	226	SOFTENERS, SURFACE POLISHES , AND STAIN REMOVERS ; AND 24
227	227
228	228	(II) TEXTILE CLEANERS , CARPET CLEANERS , AND PET 25
229	229	CLEANERS AND TREATME NTS. 26
230	230
231	231	(D) (1) “PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT ” MEANS A PRODUCT THAT IS 27
232	232	LABELED OR MARKETED FOR THE APPLICATION TO AN INDIVIDUAL IN ORDER TO 28
233	233	CLEAN, ALTER, OR MAINTAIN THE APPE ARANCE OF THE INDIVI DUAL. 29
234	234
235	235	(2) “PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT ” INCLUDES: 30
236	236	6 HOUSE BILL 69
237	237
238	238
239	239	(I) SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER , STYLING SPRAYS AND G ELS, AND 1
240	240	OTHER HAIR CARE PROD UCTS; 2
241	241
242	242	(II) LOTION, MOISTURIZER, FACIAL TONER , AND OTHER SKIN 3
243	243	CARE PRODUCTS ; AND 4
244	244
245	245	(III) LIQUID SOAP AND OTHER BODY CARE PRODUCTS . 5
246	246
247	247	(E) (1) “POSTCONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT” MEANS THE PORTION OF 6
248	248	A COVERED PRODUCT ’S TOTAL WEIGHT THAT IS COMPOSED OF POSTC ONSUMER 7
249	249	RECYCLED MATERIAL , AS DETERMINED BY A M ATERIAL BALANCE APPR OACH THAT 8
250	250	CALCULATES TOTAL POSTCONS UMER RECYCLED MATERI AL AS A PERCENTAGE O F 9
251	251	THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE COVERED PRODUCT . 10
252	252
253	253	(2) “POSTCONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT” DOES NOT INCLUDE 11
254	254	PRECONSUMER OR POSTI NDUSTRIAL SECONDARY WASTE MATERIAL OR MA TERIALS 12
255	255	AND BY–PRODUCTS GENERATED F ROM, AND COMMONLY USED WI THIN, AN ORIGINAL 13
256	256	MANUFACTURING AND FA BRICATION PROCESS . 14
257	257
258	258	(F) “POSTCONSUMER RECYCLED MATERIAL” MEANS A MATERIAL OR 15
259	259	PRODUCT GENERATED BY HOUSEHOLDS OR BY COM MERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND 16
260	260	INSTITUTIONAL FACILI TIES IN THEIR ROLE A S END USERS OF THE MATERIAL OR 17
261	261	PRODUCT THAT HAS : 18
262	262
263	263	(1) BEEN USED FOR ITS INT ENDED USE OR CAN NO LONGER BE USED 19
264	264	FOR ITS INTENDED USE , INCLUDING MATERIAL O R PRODUCT THAT HAS B EEN 20
265	265	RETURNED FROM THE DI STRIBUTION CHAIN ; AND 21
266	266
267	267	(2) BEEN SEPARATED FROM T HE SOLID WASTE STREAM FOR THE 22
268	268	PURPOSES OF COLLECTI ON AND RECYCLING . 23
269	269
270	270	(G) (1) “PRODUCER” MEANS A PERSON RESPO NSIBLE FOR COMPLYING 24
271	271	WITH THE REQUIREMENT S UNDER THIS SUBTITL E. 25
272	272
273	273	(2) “PRODUCER” INCLUDES A FRANCHISO R OF A FRANCHISE 26
274	274	LOCATED IN THE STATE. 27
275	275
276	276	(3) “PRODUCER” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 28
277	277
278	278	(I) THE STATE, A COUNTY, A MUNICIPALITY , OR ANY OTHER 29
279	279	POLITICAL SUBDIVISIO N OF THE STATE; 30
280	280	HOUSE BILL 69 7
281	281
282	282
283	283	(II) A CHARITABLE ORGANIZAT ION THAT IS TAX EXEM PT UNDER 1
284	284	§ 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; 2
285	285
286	286	(III) A SOCIAL WELFARE ORGAN IZATION THAT IS TAX EXEMPT 3
287	287	UNDER § 501(C)(4) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; 4
288	288
289	289	(IV) A FRANCHISEE THAT OPER ATES A FRANCHISE IN THE 5
290	290	STATE; 6
291	291
292	292	(V) A PERSON THAT ANNUALLY SELLS, OFFERS FOR SALE , 7
293	293	DISTRIBUTES, OR IMPORTS INTO THE COUNTRY FOR SALE IN THE STATE LESS THAN 8
294	294	1 TON OF A SINGLE CATE GORY OF COVERED PROD UCTS; OR 9
295	295
296	296	(VI) A PERSON THAT ANNUALLY SELLS, OFFERS FOR SALE , OR 10
297	297	DISTRIBUTES ANY CATE GORY OF A COVERED PR ODUCT IN THE STATE IF THE 11
298	298	PERSON’S AGGREGATE GLOBAL A NNUAL REVENUE IS LES S THAN $5,000,000. 12
299	299
300	300	(H) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE POSTCONSUMER RECYCLING CONTENT 13
301	301	PROGRAM. 14
302	302
303	303	9–2702. 15
304	304
305	305	(A) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THIS SECTION 16
306	306	APPLIES TO A PRODUCE R THAT SELLS , OFFERS FOR SALE , OR DISTRIBUTES A 17
307	307	COVERED PRODUCT IN T HE STATE. 18
308	308
309	309	(2) (I) IF THE COVERED PROD UCT IS SOLD UNDER TH E 19
310	310	PRODUCER’S OWN BRAND OR LACKS IDENTIFICATION OF A BRAND, THE PRODUCER 20
311	311	IS THE PERSON WHO MA NUFACTURES THE COVER ED PRODUCT. 21
312	312
313	313	(II) IF THE COVERED PRODUC T IS MANUFACTURED BY A 22
314	314	PERSON OTHER THAN TH E BRAND OWNER , THE PRODUCER IS THE PERSON WHO IS 23
315	315	THE LICENSEE OF A BR AND OR TRADEMARK UND ER WHICH A COVERED P RODUCT IS 24
316	316	SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE , OR DISTRIBUTED IN TH E STATE, WHETHER OR NOT THE 25
317	317	TRADEMARK IS REGISTE RED IN THE STATE, UNLESS ANOTHER RESPO NSIBLE 26
318	318	PERSON HAS CONTRACTU ALLY ASSUMED RESPON SIBILITY AS THE PROD UCER. 27
319	319
320	320	(III) IF THERE IS NO PERSON DESCRIBED IN SUBPARA GRAPH (I) 28
321	321	OR (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH OV ER WHOM THE STATE CAN CONSTITUTIO NALLY 29
322	322	EXERCISE JURISDICTIO N, THE PRODUCER IS THE PERSON WHO IMPORTS O R 30
323	323	DISTRIBUTES THE COVE RED PRODUCT IN THE STATE. 31
324	324	8 HOUSE BILL 69
325	325
326	326
327	327	(3) IF ANOTHER PERSON CON TRACTUALLY ASSUMES 1
328	328	RESPONSIBILITY AS A PRODUCER UNDER PARAG RAPH (2)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 2
329	329	THE PRODUCER MUST PR OVIDE A CERTIFIED CO PY OF THE CONTRACT A GREEMENT 3
330	330	TO THE DEPARTMENT . 4
331	331
332	332	(B) A PRODUCER MAY NOT SEL L, OFFER FOR SALE, OR DISTRIBUTE A 5
333	333	COVERED PRODUCT TO A NY PERSON IN THE STATE UNLESS: 6
334	334
335	335	(1) THE PRODUCT MEETS THE MINIMUM POSTCONSUMER RECYCLED 7
336	336	CONTENT PERCENTAGE R EQUIREMENTS ESTABLIS HED UNDER THIS SUBTI TLE; AND 8
337	337
338	338	(2) IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–2703 OF THIS SUBTITLE, THE 9
339	339	PRODUCER HAS , INDIVIDUALLY OR AS P ART OF A REPRESENTAT IVE ORGANIZATION : 10
340	340
341	341	(I) REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT ; AND 11
342	342
343	343	(II) SUBMITTED A REGISTRAT ION FEE TO THE DEPARTMENT . 12
344	344
345	345	9–2703. 13
346	346
347	347	(A) (1) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2026, A 14
348	348	PRODUCER SHALL , INDIVIDUALLY OR AS P ART OF A REPRESENTAT IVE 15
349	349	ORGANIZATION , REGISTER WITH THE DEPARTMENT . 16
350	350
351	351	(2) ON OR BEFORE MAY 15 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2026, A 17
352	352	PRODUCER SHALL , INDIVIDUALLY OR AS P ART OF A REPRESENTAT IVE 18
353	353	ORGANIZATION , PAY THE REGISTRA TION FEE ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT 19
354	354	UNDER PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 20
355	355
356	356	(3) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH AN ANNUAL 21
357	357	REGISTRATION FEE FOR EACH CATEGORY OF A C OVERED PRODUCT . 22
358	358
359	359	(II) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS 23
360	360	PARAGRAPH , REGISTRATION FEES SH ALL BE SET IN A MANN ER THAT: 24
361	361
362	362	1. WILL PRODUCE FUNDS SU FFICIENT TO COVER TH E 25
363	363	DEPARTMENT ’S ESTIMATED COSTS OF PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING , 26
364	364	ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND EVALUATING THE PROGRAM FOR 27
365	365	THE UPCOMING 1–YEAR PERIOD; AND 28
366	366
367	367	2. IS PROPORTIONAL TO TH E PRODUCER ’S SHARE OF 29
368	368	THE TOTAL POUNDS OF PLASTIC SOLD IN THE STATE IN EACH PRODUCT CATEGORY 30
369	369	FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING YEAR . 31 HOUSE BILL 69 9
370	370
371	371
372	372
373	373	(III) FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM’S OPERATION , 1
374	374	REGISTRATION FEES SH ALL BE SET IN A MANNER THAT: 2
375	375
376	376	1. WILL PRODUCE FUNDS SU FFICIENT TO COVER TH E 3
377	377	DEPARTMENT ’S ESTIMATED COSTS OF PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING , 4
378	378	ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND EVALUATING THE PROGRAM FOR 5
379	379	THE UPCOMING 1–YEAR PERIOD; 6
380	380
381	381	2. WILL PRODUCE FUNDS SU FFICIENT TO REIMBURSE 7
382	382	THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE FOR THE ACTUAL COSTS THAT RESULT FR OM 8
383	383	THE PROGRAM IN THAT YEAR ; AND 9
384	384
385	385	3. IS PROPORTIONAL TO TH E PRODUCER ’S SHARE OF 10
386	386	THE TOTAL POUNDS OF PLASTIC SOLD IN THE STATE IN EACH PRODUCT CATEGORY 11
387	387	FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING YEAR. 12
388	388
389	389	(4) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 13
390	390	PARAGRAPH , IF, IN ANY YEAR, THE AMOUNT OF REGIST RATION FEE REVENUE 14
391	391	COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT EXCEEDS TH E DEPARTMENT ’S ACTUAL COSTS OF 15
392	392	PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING , ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND 16
393	393	EVALUATING THE PROGRAM, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CARR Y THE EXCESS 17
394	394	AMOUNT FORWARD FOR T HE PURPOSE OF REDUCI NG REGISTRATION FEES FOR THE 18
395	395	FOLLOWING YEAR . 19
396	396
397	397	(II) FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM’S OPERATION , 20
398	398	REGISTRATION FEE REV ENUE SHALL BE USE D: 21
399	399
400	400	1. NOTWITHSTANDING § 9–1707(F)(7)(IV) OF THIS 22
401	401	TITLE, TO REIMBURSE THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE FOR ACTUAL COST S THAT 23
402	402	RESULT FROM THE PROGRAM FOR THAT YEAR ; AND 24
403	403
404	404	2. TO COVER THE DEPARTMENT ’S ACTUAL COSTS OF 25
405	405	PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING , ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND 26
406	406	EVALUATING THE PROGRAM. 27
407	407
408	408	(5) IF, IN ANY GIVEN YEAR , THE AMOUNT OF REGIST RATION FEE 28
409	409	REVENUE COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT IS INSUFFI CIENT TO COVER THE 29
410	410	DEPARTMENT ’S ACTUAL COSTS OF PL ANNING, IMPLEMENTING , ADMINISTERING , 30
411	411	MONITORIN G, ENFORCING, AND EVALUATING THE PROGRAM, THE DEPARTMENT 31
412	412	SHALL ADJUST REGISTR ATION FEES FOR THE F OLLOWING YEAR TO COV ER THE 32
413	413	DEPARTMENT ’S ACTUAL COSTS. 33
414	414	10 HOUSE BILL 69
415	415
416	416
417	417	(B) THE REGISTRATION SHAL L INCLUDE INFORMATIO N REGARDING : 1
418	418
419	419	(1) EACH PRODUCER INCLUDE D UNDER THE REGIS TRATION; 2
420	420
421	421	(2) EACH BRAND OF A COVER ED PRODUCT INCLUDED UNDER THE 3
422	422	REGISTRATION ; 4
423	423
424	424	(3) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF C OVERED PRODUCTS SOLD IN THE STATE 5
425	425	IN THE IMMEDIATELY P RECEDING CALENDAR YE AR, INCLUDING THE TOTAL 6
426	426	NUMBER BY EACH CATEG ORY OF A COVERED PRO DUCT; 7
427	427
428	428	(4) THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF C OVERED PRODUCTS SOLD IN THE STATE 8
429	429	IN THE IMMEDIATELY P RECEDING CALENDAR YE AR, INCLUDING THE TOTAL WEIGHT 9
430	430	BY EACH CATEGORY OF A COVERED PRODUCT ; 10
431	431
432	432	(5) THE AVERAGE PERCENTAG E OF POSTCONSUMER RE CYCLED 11
433	433	CONTENT FOR EACH CAT EGORY OF A COVERED PRODUCT SOLD IN THE STATE IN THE 12
434	434	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G CALENDAR YEAR ; 13
435	435
436	436	(6) PROOF OF THIRD –PARTY CERTIFICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH 14
437	437	SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION; AND 15
438	438
439	439	(7) ANY ADDITIONAL INFORM ATION REQUIRED BY TH E DEPARTMENT 16
440	440	IN REGULATION . 17
441	441
442	442	(C) (1) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2028, A 18
443	443	PRODUCER SHALL INCLU DE PROOF OF THIRD –PARTY CERTIFICATION OF THE 19
444	444	POSTCONSUMER RECYCLE D CONTENT OF EACH CO VERED PRODUCT INCLUD ED IN 20
445	445	THE REGISTRATION IN A MANNER REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 21
446	446
447	447	(2) THE CERTIFICATION REQUIR ED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 22
448	448	SUBSECTION SHALL BE COMPLETED BY AN INDE PENDENT, ACCREDITED 23
449	449	CERTIFYING BODY AS R EQUIRED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR 24
450	450	STANDARDIZATION . 25
451	451
452	452	(D) ANY SALES DATA SUBMIT TED TO THE DEPARTMENT TO COMPLY WITH 26
453	453	THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION SHALL B E TREATED AS CONFIDE NTIAL AND 27
454	454	PROPRIETARY , AND MAY NOT BE DISCL OSED EXCEPT AS OTHER WISE REQUIRED BY 28
455	455	LAW. 29
456	456
457	457	9–2704. 30
458	458	HOUSE BILL 69 11
459	459
460	460
461	461	(A) (1) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO BEVERAGE CONTAINE RS THAT ARE 1
462	462	PRIMARILY COMPOSED O F ONE OR MORE PLA STIC RESINS AND INTE NDED TO 2
463	463	CONTAIN BEVERAGES UP TO 2 GALLONS IN CAPACITY , INCLUDING AN IN DIVIDUAL, 3
464	464	SEALABLE, SEPARATE BOTTLE , CAN, JAR, CARTON, OR OTHER BEVERAGE 4
465	465	CONTAINER THAT IS CA PABLE OF MAINTAINING ITS SHAPE WHEN EMPTY . 5
466	466
467	467	(2) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO: 6
468	468
469	469	(I) REFILLABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS, INCLUDING 7
470	470	CONTAINERS THAT ARE SUFFICIENTLY DURABLE FOR MULTIPLE ROTATIO NS OF 8
471	471	THEIR ORIGINAL PURPO SE OR A SIMILAR PURP OSE AND ARE INTENDED TO 9
472	472	FUNCTION IN A SYSTEM OF REUSE; 10
473	473
474	474	(II) LINERS, BLADDERS, CAPS, CORKS, CLOSURES, LABELS, AND 11
475	475	OTHER ITEMS ADDED TO THE BOTTLE OR CONTAI NER BUT THAT ARE SEP ARATE 12
476	476	FROM THE STRUCTURE O F THE BOTTLE OR CONT AINER; 13
477	477
478	478	(III) CONTAINERS CERTIFIED BY THE BIODEGRADABLE 14
479	479	PRODUCTS INSTITUTE AS COMPOSTA BLE; OR 15
480	480
481	481	(IV) CONTAINERS USE D FOR INFANT FORMULA , MEDICAL 16
482	482	BEVERAGES, OR FORTIFIED ORAL NU TRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT S. 17
483	483
484	484	(B) THE MINIMUM POSTCONSU MER RECYCLED CONTENT PERCENTAGE 18
485	485	REQUIREMENT FOR PLAS TIC BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS IS: 19
486	486
487	487	(1) FROM JANUARY 1, 2027, TO DECEMBER 31, 2028, BOTH 20
488	488	INCLUSIVE, 15%; 21
489	489
490	490	(2) FROM JANUARY 1, 2029, TO DECEMBER 31, 2032, BOTH 22
491	491	INCLUSIVE, 25%; AND 23
492	492
493	493	(3) ON AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 2033, 50%. 24
494	494
495	495	9–2705. 25
496	496
497	497	(A) (1) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO RIGID PLASTIC CONTAIN ERS OR OTHER 26
498	498	NONDURABLE CONTAINER S THAT ARE PRIMARILY COMPOSED O F ONE OR MORE 27
499	499	PLASTIC RESINS, ARE CAPABLE OF MAINT AINING THEIR SHAPE W HEN EMPTY, AND 28
500	500	ARE USED TO PACKAGE OR STORE FOOD . 29
501	501
502	502	(2) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO: 30
503	503	12 HOUSE BILL 69
504	504
505	505
506	506	(I) REFILLABLE RIGID PLAS TIC FOOD CONTAINERS , 1
507	507	INCLUDING CONTAINERS THAT ARE SUFFICIENTLY DURA BLE FOR MULTIPLE 2
508	508	ROTATIONS OF THEIR O RIGINAL PURPOSE OR A SIMILAR PURPOSE AND ARE 3
509	509	INTENDED TO FUNCTION IN A SYSTEM OF REUSE ; 4
510	510
511	511	(II) RIGID PLASTIC CONTAIN ERS THAT CONTAIN DIE TARY 5
512	512	SUPPLEMENTS ; OR 6
513	513
514	514	(III) A PLASTIC BEVERAGE CON TAINER UNDER § 9–2704 OF THIS 7
515	515	SUBTITLE. 8
516	516
517	517	(B) THE MINIMUM POSTCONSU MER RECYCLED CONTENT PERCENTAGE 9
518	518	REQUIREMENT FOR RIGI D PLASTIC CONTAINERS USED TO PACKAGE OR S TORE FOOD 10
519	519	IS: 11
520	520
521	521	(1) FROM JANUARY 1, 2027, TO DECEMBER 31, 2030, BOTH 12
522	522	INCLUSIVE, 15%; 13
523	523
524	524	(2) FROM JANUARY 1, 2031, TO DECEMBER 31, 2033, BOTH 14
525	525	INCLUSIVE, 30%; AND 15
526	526
527	527	(3) ON AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 2034, 40%. 16
528	528
529	529	9–2706. 17
530	530
531	531	(A) (1) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO RIGID PLASTIC CON TAINERS OR OTHER 18
532	532	NONDURABLE CONTAINER S THAT ARE PRIMARILY COMPOSED OF ONE OR M ORE 19
533	533	PLASTIC RESIN S, ARE CAPABLE OF MAINT AINING THEIR SHAPE W HEN EMPTY, AND 20
534	534	ARE USED FOR HOUSEHO LD CLEANING PRODUCTS OR PERSONAL CARE PRO DUCTS. 21
535	535
536	536	(2) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO: 22
537	537
538	538	(I) REFILLABLE HOUSEHOLD CLEANING AND PERSONA L CARE 23
539	539	PRODUCT CONTAINERS , INCLUDING CONTAINERS THAT ARE SUFFICIENTL Y 24
540	540	DURABLE FOR MULTIPLE ROTATIONS OF THEIR O RIGINAL PURPOSE OR A SIMILAR 25
541	541	PURPOSE AND ARE INTE NDED TO FUNCTION IN A SYSTEM OF REUSE ; OR 26
542	542
543	543	(II) RIGID PLASTIC CONTAINERS T HAT ARE MEDICAL DEVI CES 27
544	544	OR THAT ARE USED FOR : 28
545	545
546	546	1. MEDICAL PRODUCTS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE 29
547	547	STERILE; OR 30
548	548	HOUSE BILL 69 13
549	549
550	550
551	551	2. NONPRESCRIPTION OR PR ESCRIPTION DRUGS . 1
552	552
553	553	(B) THE MINIMUM POSTCONSU MER RECYCLED CONTENT PERCENTAGE 2
554	554	REQUIREMENT FOR RIGI D PLASTIC CONTAINER S USED FOR HOUSEHOLD C LEANING 3
555	555	OR PERSONAL CARE PRO DUCTS IS: 4
556	556
557	557	(1) FROM JANUARY 1, 2027, TO DECEMBER 31, 2030, BOTH 5
558	558	INCLUSIVE, 25%; 6
559	559
560	560	(2) FROM JANUARY 1, 2031, TO DECEMBER 31, 2034, BOTH 7
561	561	INCLUSIVE, 30%; AND 8
562	562
563	563	(3) ON AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 2035, 35%. 9
564	564
565	565	9–2707. 10
566	566
567	567	THE DEPARTMENT MAY GRANT A TEMPORARY WAIVER F ROM THE 11
568	568	REQUIREMENTS UNDER T HIS SUBTITLE TO A PR ODUCER IF THE DEPARTMENT 12
569	569	DETERMINES THAT ACHI EVING COMPLIANCE UND ER THIS SUBTITLE WOU LD 13
570	570	PRESENT AN UNDUE HAR DSHIP OR A PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY N OT GENERALLY 14
571	571	APPLICABLE TO OTHER PRODUCERS IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES . 15
572	572
573	573	9–2708. 16
574	574
575	575	(A) THE DEPARTMENT MAY : 17
576	576
577	577	(1) CONDUCT AUDITS AND IN VESTIGATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF 18
578	578	ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENT S OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 19
579	579
580	580	(2) PARTICIPATE IN THE ES TABLISHMENT AND IMPL EMENTATION OF 20
581	581	A MULTISTATE CLEARIN GHOUSE TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE REQ UIREMENTS 21
582	582	OF THIS SUBTITLE, INCLUDING TO: 22
583	583
584	584	(I) HELP COORDINATE THE R EVIEW OF REGISTRATIO NS, 23
585	585	WAIVER REQUESTS , AND CERTIFICATIONS ; AND 24
586	586
587	587	(II) IMPLEMENT EDUCATI ON AND OUTREACH ACTI VITIES. 25
588	588
589	589	(B) ON AN ANNUAL BASIS , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PUBL ISH ON ITS 26
590	590	WEBSITE: 27
591	591
592	592	(1) A LIST OF EACH REGISTE RED PRODUCER OF A CO VERED 28
593	593	PRODUCT AND ASSOCIAT ED BRAND NAMES ; 29 14 HOUSE BILL 69
594	594
595	595
596	596
597	597	(2) THE COMPLIANCE STATUS FOR EACH REGISTERED PRODUCER; 1
598	598	AND 2
599	599
600	600	(3) ANY OTHER INFORMATION DEEMED APPROPRIATE B Y THE 3
601	601	DEPARTMENT . 4
602	602
603	603	9–2709. 5
604	604
605	605	THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO CAR RY OUT THIS 6
606	606	SUBTITLE. 7
607	607
608	608	9–2710. 8
609	609
610	610	(A) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, THE 9
611	611	PROVISIONS OF §§ 9–334 THROUGH 9–342 OF THIS TITLE APPLY TO ENFORCE 10
612	612	VIOLATIONS OF THIS S UBTITLE. 11
613	613
614	614	(2) A PENALTY MAY NOT BE I MPOSED ON A PRODUCER UNDER THIS 12
615	615	SECTION FOR FAILING TO REGISTER WITH THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–2703 OF 13
616	616	THIS SUBTITLE UNLESS : 14
617	617
618	618	(I) THE DEPARTMENT FIRST ISSU ES A WRITTEN NOTICE OF 15
619	619	VIOLATION TO THE PRO DUCER; AND 16
620	620
621	621	(II) THE PRODUCER HAS NOT REGISTERED WITH THE 17
622	622	DEPARTMENT WITHIN 90 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF T HE WRITTEN NOTICE . 18
623	623
624	624	(B) (1) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2027, A PRODUCER THAT DOES NOT 19
625	625	MEET THE MINIMUM POS TCONSUMER RECYC LED CONTENT PERCENTA GE 20
626	626	REQUIREMENTS ESTABLI SHED UNDER THIS SUBT ITLE IS SUBJECT TO A N 21
627	627	ADMINISTRATIVE PENAL TY EACH YEAR THE VIO LATION OCCURS . 22
628	628
629	629	(2) AN ADMINISTRATIVE PEN ALTY IMPOSED UNDER T HIS 23
630	630	SUBSECTION SHALL EQU AL THE PRODUCT OF MU LTIPLYING: 24
631	631
632	632	(I) THE TOTAL POUNDS OF PLAST IC USED IN THE PRODU CT 25
633	633	CATEGORY MULTIPLIED BY THE RELEVANT MINI MUM POSTCONSUMER REC YCLED 26
634	634	CONTENT PERCENTAGE , LESS THE TOTAL POUND S OF POSTCONSUMER RE CYCLING 27
635	635	PLASTIC USED; AND 28
636	636
637	637	(II) 20 CENTS. 29
638	638	HOUSE BILL 69 15
639	639
640	640
641	641	(3) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADJUST THE ADMINISTRATIVE PENAL TY 1
642	642	AMOUNT IMPOSED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION AS N ECESSARY TO ENSURE T HAT THE 2
643	643	ADMINISTRATIVE PENAL TY EXCEEDS THE COST OF COMPLIANCE . 3
644	644
645	645	(4) (I) THE DEPARTMENT MAY GRANT A REDUCTION IN THE 4
646	646	ADMINISTRATIVE PENAL TIES IMPOSED UNDER T HIS SUBSECTION IF A PRODUCER 5
647	647	SUBMITS TO THE DEPARTMENT A CORRECTI VE ACTION PLAN AND T HE 6
648	648	DEPARTMENT APPROVES T HE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN. 7
649	649
650	650	(II) A CORRECTIVE ACTION PL AN SUBMITTED UNDER T HIS 8
651	651	PARAGRAPH SHALL INCL UDE: 9
652	652
653	653	1. THE REASONS THE PRODU CER WILL FAIL TO MEE T OR 10
654	654	FAILED TO MEET THE M INIMUM POSTCONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT PER CENTAGE 11
655	655	REQUIREMENTS ; AND 12
656	656
657	657	2. THE STEPS THAT THE PR ODUCER WILL TAKE TO 13
658	658	COMPLY WITH THE REQU IREMENTS DURING THE SUBSEQUENT REPORTING YEAR. 14
659	659
660	660	(III) IN DETERMINING WHETHE R TO GRANT A REDUCTI ON IN THE 15
661	661	ADMINISTRATIVE PENAL TIES, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONS IDER: 16
662	662
663	663	1. ANOMALOUS MARKET COND ITIONS; 17
664	664
665	665	2. DISRUPTION IN SUPPLY OR LACK OF SUPPLY OF 18
666	666	RECYCLED PLASTICS ; 19
667	667
668	668	3. EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE PRODUCER TO 20
669	669	INCREASE THE RECYCLA BILITY OF THE PRODUC ER’S PRODUCT AND THE SU PPLY OF 21
670	670	POSTCONSUMER RECYCLE D PLASTIC; AND 22
671	671
672	672	4. OTHER FACTORS THAT PR EVENT A PRODUCER FRO M 23
673	673	MEETING THE MINIMUM POSTCONSUMER RECYCLE D CONTENT PERCENTAGE 24
674	674	REQUIREMENTS . 25
675	675
676	676	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 26
677	677
678	678	(a) The Department of the Environment shall contract with a research university 27
679	679	or an independent third–party consultant to: 28
680	680
681	681	(1) evaluate the implementation of this Act and its effectiveness in 29
682	682	stimulating the recycling markets in the State and displacing virgin plastic with 30
683	683	postconsumer recycled content; and 31
684	684	16 HOUSE BILL 69
685	685
686	686
687	687	(2) make recommendations for legislative or administrative actions, if any, 1
688	688	necessary to further the purpose of this Act. 2
689	689
690	690	(b) On or before October 1, 2030, the Department shall: 3
691	691
692	692	(1) report the findings and recommendations of the research university or 4
693	693	independent third–party consultant to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of 5
694	694	the State Government Article, the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment 6
695	695	Committee and the House Environment and Transportation Committee; and 7
696	696
697	697	(2) post the findings and recommendations on the Department’s website. 8
698	698
699	699	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
700	700	October 1, 2025. 10