The proposed General Assembly Committee Bill No. 5019 establishes an extended producer responsibility program for consumer batteries, set to take effect on October 1, 2025. The bill introduces new definitions and requirements for battery stewardship organizations, which will be responsible for implementing battery stewardship plans. Key definitions include "battery-containing product," "covered battery," and "producer," clarifying the scope of the legislation. The bill mandates that producers of portable and medium format batteries participate in approved stewardship plans by January 1, 2027, and July 1, 2028, respectively. Retailers are prohibited from selling covered batteries unless the producer is part of an approved stewardship organization, and they are not required to serve as collection sites unless they choose to do so.

Additionally, the bill emphasizes environmentally sound management practices, requiring compliance with regulatory standards and comprehensive liability coverage for battery stewardship organizations. It introduces metrics for measuring recycling effectiveness, such as "collection rate" and "recycling efficiency rate," and mandates that stewardship organizations submit detailed plans to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. The bill also prohibits charging consumers a point-of-sale fee for the stewardship program and establishes penalties for non-compliance. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance battery recycling and management, reduce environmental impact, and promote sustainable practices by holding producers accountable for the lifecycle of their products.