The Battery Stewardship Act establishes a regulatory framework for the management and recycling of covered batteries in Oklahoma, effective January 1, 2027. Under this Act, producers and retailers are prohibited from selling or distributing covered batteries unless they comply with specific requirements, including submitting a battery stewardship plan to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) by June 1, 2026. This plan must detail strategies for battery collection and recycling, public education efforts, collection facilities, transportation methods, and recycling efficiency goals. Producers will also be required to pay an annual fee based on their market share to support the DEQ's program administration.

The Act mandates that producers ensure the collection and recycling of all covered batteries, including those sold for business-to-business purposes, and requires convenient collection points and specific recycling efficiency targets. It includes provisions for public awareness surveys and independent audits of stewardship plans after five years. The legislation introduces new sections to the Oklahoma Statutes, allowing compliance through participation in a battery stewardship organization and requiring each county to have at least one year-round collection facility. Additionally, it outlines a reimbursement process for producers collecting batteries outside their approved plans and establishes penalties for non-compliance, including fines of up to $10,000 per violation. The Act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.