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AB 1304: Paint product recovery program: paint recovery: education and outreach.
What AB 1304 does, verified February 3, 2026
The bill aims to amend existing paint product recovery programs to require paint manufacturers to develop and implement a program to recover, reuse, and recycle postconsumer paint. The purpose of the program is to reduce environmental impacts and disposal costs by collecting and transporting leftover paint for reuse, processing, or recycling. The program will also promote source reduction and recycling products through education and outreach efforts. These efforts will include training California's future workforce by partnering with apprenticeship programs for journey-level painters.
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5GovernorPending
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Last action: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me
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| Feb. 02, 2026 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| May. 23, 2025 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| May. 07, 2025 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr. 22, 2025 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 1.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
Latest bill textAmended version, April 3, 2025 · 1,572 words
| Amended IN Assembly April 03, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1304
| Introduced by Assembly Member Schultz |
February 21, 2025 |
An act to amend Sections 48700 and 48701 48700, 48701, and 48703.4 of the Public Resources Code, relating to paint products.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1304, as amended, Schultz. Paint product recovery program: paint recovery: definition. education and outreach.
Existing law establishes a paint product recovery program for the purpose of requiring paint manufacturers to develop and implement a program stewardship plan to collect, transport, and process postconsumer paint to reduce the costs and environmental impacts of the disposal of postconsumer paint in this state. Existing law defines various terms for the purpose of the program. Existing law requires a stewardship plan to include consumer, contractor, and retailer education and outreach efforts to promote source reduction and recycling products, and authorizes the development and updating of education and outreach materials.
This bill would state that the purpose of the program is also to require paint manufacturers to develop and implement a program to recover, reuse, and recycle postconsumer paint. The bill would define “paint recovery” to mean the process of collecting and transporting leftover paint for the purpose of reuse, processing, or recycling to reduce its environmental impact and disposal costs. The bill would require, rather than authorize, the development and updating of education and outreach materials, would require a stewardship plan’s education and outreach efforts to also promote the proper use and handling of paint products, and would require those efforts to include investment in the training of California’s future workforce by working with California apprenticeship programs for training apprentices and journey-level painters.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Proper recovery, reuse, processing, and recycling of paint has many environmental benefits, including saving energy, water, and oil, reducing climate changing carbon dioxide emissions, reducing the amount of waste in landfills, and conserving resources.
(b) Proper recovery, reuse, processing, and recycling of paint supports a circular economy by decreasing the cost for new paint materials through reuse, reformulation, offsetting need for virgin materials, and by creating new business opportunities and potentially lower production costs for paint manufacturers.
(c) California painters are skilled tradespeople who not only play a vital role in shaping our cities and infrastructure, but also are all members of the communities they work in.
(d) The thousands of skilled tradespeople of California are committed to, and are invested in, the health and well-being of the towns and cities they work and live in.
(e) Training and apprenticeship programs train the future tradespeople of our state to not only meet the high quality standards of their craft, but also to meet California’s health, safety, and environmental laws, codes, ordinances, and standards.
(f) Historic investment in workforce training through California’s apprenticeship programs has empowered tradespeople to advocate on behalf of themselves and their communities for stronger health and safety standards.
(g) Investment in California’s trade apprenticeship programs on environmental conservation and sustainable practices will lead to stronger community involvement in the programs and practices that protect our communities.
(c)
(h)
It is intent of the Legislature toSEC. 2.
Section 48700 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:48700.
The purpose of the paint product recovery program established pursuant to this chapter is to require paint manufacturers to develop and implement a program to collect, process, recover, recycle, reuse, and transport postconsumer paint to reduce the costs and environmental impacts of the disposal of postconsumer paint in this state.SEC. 3.
Section 48701 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:48701.
For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:(a) (1) “Aerosol coating product” means a pressurized coating product containing pigments or resins dispensed by means of a propellant and packaged and sold in a disposable aerosol container for handheld application, or for use in specialized equipment for ground traffic or marking applications.
(2) “Aerosol coating product” does not include paint thinner, paint remover, graffiti remover, caulking compounds that contain no appreciable level of opaque fillers or pigments, products subject to Article 1 (commencing with Section 94500) or Article 2 (commencing with Section 94507) of Subchapter 8.5 of Chapter 1 of Division 3 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, or other nonaerosol coating products not regulated under Article 3 (commencing with Section 94520) of Subchapter 8.5 of Chapter 1 of Division 3 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations.
(b) “Coating-related product” means a product used as a paint thinner, paint colorant, paint additive, paint remover, surface sealant, surface preparation, or surface adhesive and sold for home improvement. For purposes of this subdivision, “home improvement” has the same meaning as defined in Section 7151 of the Business and Professions Code.
(c) “Consumer” means a purchaser or owner of a paint product, including a person, business, corporation, limited partnership, nonprofit organization, or governmental entity.
(d) “Department” means the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.
(e) “Distributor” means a person that has a contractual relationship with one or more manufacturers to market and sell paint products to retailers.
(f) “Manufacturer” means a manufacturer of a paint product.
(g) “Nonindustrial coating” means arts and crafts paint, automotive refinish paint, driveway sealer, faux finish or glaze, furniture oil, furniture paint, lime wash, lime paint, marine paint, antifouling paint, road and traffic marking paint, two-component paint, wood preservative, fire retardant paint, dry fog paint, chalkboard paint, and conductive paint, sold in containers of five gallons or less for commercial and homeowner use, but does not include coatings purchased for industrial or original equipment manufacturer use.
(h) (1) “Paint product” includes all of the following:
(A) Interior and exterior architectural coatings, sold in containers of five gallons or less for commercial or homeowner use, but does not include coatings purchased for industrial or original equipment manufacturer use.
(B) Aerosol coating products.
(C) Nonindustrial coatings and coating-related products sold in containers of five gallons or less for commercial or homeowner use, but does not include products purchased for industrial or original equipment manufacturer use.
(2) “Paint product” does not include a health and beauty product.
(i) “Paint recovery” means the process of collecting and transporting leftover paint for the purpose of reusing, processing, or recycling to reduce its environmental impact and disposal costs.
(j) “Permanent collection site” means a permanent location in the state where discarded paint products may be returned at no cost, by a consumer or another party on behalf of a consumer, to be reused or otherwise managed.
(k) “Postconsumer paint” means a paint product not used by the purchaser.
(l) “Retailer” means a person that sells paint products in the state to a consumer. For purposes of this subdivision, a sale includes, but is not limited to, transactions conducted through sales outlets, catalogs, or the internet or any other similar electronic means.
(m) “Stewardship organization” means an organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and formed for the purpose of implementing a stewardship plan to meet the requirements of this chapter.
(n) “Stewardship plan” means a plan developed by a stewardship organization that meets the requirements of Sections 48703.1, 48703.2, 48703.3, and 48703.4, and is submitted to the department for approval pursuant to Section 48703.
(o) “Temporary collection site” means a temporary location in the state where discarded paint products may be returned at no cost, by a consumer or another party on behalf of a consumer, to be reused or otherwise managed.
SEC. 4.
Section 48703.4 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:48703.4.
A stewardship plan shall include consumer, contractor, and retailer education and outreach efforts to promote the proper use, handling, source(a) Developing, and updating as necessary, educational and other outreach materials for consumers and retailers of paint products. These materials shall be made available to retailers. These materials may shall include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:
(a)
(1)
Signage that is prominently displayed and easily visible to the consumer.(b)
(2)
Written materials and templates of materials for reproduction by retailers to be provided to the consumer at the time of purchase or delivery, or both. Written materials shall include information on the prohibition of improper disposal of paint products.(c)
(3)
Advertising or other promotional materials, or both, that include references to paint product recycling opportunities.(d)
(4)
An internet website that publicizes the location of approved collection sites and provides information on how to access and drop off paint products at the free and convenient network of approved collection sites offered by the stewardship organization.(e)
(5)
All signage and materials required for approved collection sites by the stewardship organization, and a description of the method by which approved collection sites can access replacement materials at no cost to the approved collection site.Text of AB 1304 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions