House advances S.254 to expand battery stewardship to rechargeable batteries and battery‑containing products

The House reviewed S.254, an act to include rechargeable batteries and battery‑containing products under Vermont’s state battery stewardship program (amending Title 10, Chapter 168). The House Environment & Energy Committee summarized technical changes, including definitions for "covered battery" and "battery containing product," requirements for producers to have an approved stewardship program and be listed on the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) website, and new safety and reporting measures for defective lithium/lithium‑ion batteries.

Key technical changes noted on the floor include an adjustment to the weight thresholds for covered batteries (the bill text discusses increases from 4.4 pounds to 25 pounds for some thresholds and clarifies limits), requirements that rechargeable batteries be readily removable from a product, third‑party audit requirements after five years of program operation, and updated private right‑of‑action and confidentiality language for ANR filings. The House committees (Environment & Energy; Ways & Means) reported concurrence with amendment and recommended support; Ways & Means reported no fiscal impact to state revenues.

The House proposed the committee amendments to the Senate and ordered third reading. Committee witnesses included representatives from ANR, product stewardship groups, recycling organizations, industry associations, and municipal solid‑waste districts.

Next steps: the bill proceeds to the Senate in the form amended by the House; ANR and stakeholders will carry out implementation work if the law is enacted.