The bill amends Michigan's legislation on beverage container management, specifically focusing on returnable containers for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. It changes the title from "A petition to initiate legislation" to "An initiated law" and introduces new provisions for the collection, return, and distribution of deposits on beverage containers. The bill establishes definitions for terms such as "redemption center" and "reverse vending machine," while outlining the responsibilities of dealers and distributors in handling deposits. Additionally, it creates two new funds—the beverage container handling fund and the bottle deposit fund—administered by the Department of Treasury to support staffing, marketing, compliance efforts, and system improvement grants.

Moreover, the bill modifies the disbursement structure of the bottle bill enforcement fund, allocating percentages to various initiatives, including cleanup and redevelopment, water security, and support for manufacturers, distributors, and dealers. It mandates reporting on enforcement efficacy by the Department of State Police and the Department of Attorney General three years post-enactment and requires the Department of Treasury to publish annual performance data. New funds, such as the water security fund and the resource recovery fund, are established to support water affordability programs and consumer education. The bill's enactment is contingent upon voter approval in the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 445.571, 445.572