This bill establishes a Paint Product Stewardship Program in New Hampshire by amending RSA 149-M, introducing new definitions for terms such as "aerosol coating product," "architectural paint," "collection site," and "manufacturer." It requires manufacturers or their representative organizations to submit a stewardship program plan to the Department of Environmental Services, detailing the management of postconsumer paint products, participating manufacturers, and the assessment added to the sale of paint products. The plan must be approved by the department, and while participation as a collection site is voluntary for retailers and political subdivisions, the bill outlines the responsibilities of all parties involved, including compliance with the approved program plan and the inclusion of a per-container assessment in the sale price of paint products.

The bill also provides for annual reporting on the program's implementation and exempts participating manufacturers from certain antitrust claims. It specifies that postconsumer paint collected at sites will be managed as universal waste and protects collection point operators from penalties for spills or leaks if they adhere to environmentally sound practices. The program is expected to generate revenue for the General Fund, with estimates of $49,000 in FY 2026, $48,000 in FY 2027, and $50,000 in FY 2028, while also reducing local expenditures related to waste paint management by at least $150,000 annually starting in FY 2027. The bill aims to alleviate the financial burden on municipalities by shifting paint disposal responsibilities from local governments to manufacturers.