AB 1325: Lubricants and waste oil: producer responsibility.
The bill creates a producer responsibility program for lubricants and waste oil, requiring producers to register with a producer responsibility organization (PRO) and develop a plan for the safe collection, transportation, and management of covered products. The PRO must provide a convenient collection system at no cost to residents or local governments. The program aims to reduce waste and promote recycling. The program requires producers to pay an annual administrative charge to cover the costs of administering and enforcing the program. Calrecycle, in coordination with DTSC, will adopt regulations to implement the program. The program will also require the submission of annual reports and the reimbursement of local jurisdictions for costs associated with collecting illegally dumped covered products. The bill also establishes the lubricant and waste oil producer responsibility fund an…
| 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. |
| Apr. 21, 2025 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Mar. 25, 2025 | Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. |
| Mar. 24, 2025 | Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and JUD. |
| Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2025 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member |
February 21, 2025 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
The California Coastal Act of 1976 provides for the planning and regulation of development within the coastal zone, as defined. The act requires facilities serving the commercial fishing and recreational boating industries to be protected and, where feasible, upgraded, and prohibits existing commercial fishing and recreational boating harbor space from being reduced unless the demand for those facilities no longer exists or adequate substitute space has been provided.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the latter provision.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 42042 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:42042.
This chapter does not apply to a covered product if the covered product is included in an approved producer responsibility plan pursuant to the Lubricant and Waste Oil Producer Responsibility Act of 2025 (Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 48695) of Part 7).SEC. 2.
Article 11 (commencing with Section 48692) is added to Chapter 4 of Part 7 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code, to read:Article 11. Operation
48692.
This chapter shall become inoperative when all the following are met:SEC. 3.
Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 48695) is added to Part 7 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code, to read:CHAPTER 4.5. Lubricant and Waste Oil Producer Responsibility Act of 2025
Article 1. General Provisions and Definitions
48695.
(a) This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Lubricant and Waste Oil Producer Responsibility Act of 2025.48695.02.
(a) (1) Except as provided in Section 48695.30, CalRecycle, in coordination with DTSC, shall adopt, amend, or repeal, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), regulations to implement this chapter. CalRecycle shall not adopt regulations pursuant to this section with an effective date earlier than January 1, 2028.48695.04.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:48695.06.
This chapter does not apply to a covered product if the covered product is included in an approved producer responsibility plan pursuant to another producer responsibility program, including, but not limited to, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 42040) of Part 3).Article 2. Producers
48695.10.
(a) No later than 90 days after CalRecycle’s approval of the producer responsibility organization, pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 48695.02, a producer shall register with the producer responsibility organization.48695.12.
(a) No later than 180 days after the effective date of the regulations described in Section 48695.02, a producer shall provide to CalRecycle and DTSC, in a form and manner jointly established by CalRecycle and DTSC, both of the following:Article 3. Producer Responsibility Organizations
48695.20.
The producer responsibility organization shall have a governing board consisting of participant producers that represent the diversity of covered products.48695.22.
If CalRecycle determines that the producer responsibility organization no longer meets the requirements of this chapter or fails to implement or administer an approved plan in a manner that effectuates the purposes of this chapter, CalRecycle may revoke its approval of the producer responsibility plan pursuant to Section 48695.64 and may approve a producer responsibility plan submitted by another producer responsibility organization.48695.24.
The producer responsibility organization shall notify CalRecycle within 30 calendar days of any of the following:48695.26.
Within 24 months of the effective date of the regulations described in Section 48695.02, the producer responsibility organization with an approved plan shall provide a convenient collection and management system for covered products at no cost to residents or local governments.48695.28.
The producer responsibility organization may conduct a needs assessment to determine appropriate strategies and investments needed to meet the requirements of this chapter.Article 4. Producer Responsibility Plans
48695.30.
(a) Within 12 months of the effective date of the regulations described in Section 48695.02, the producer responsibility organization shall develop and submit a proposed producer responsibility plan to CalRecycle, in a form and manner determined by CalRecycle.48695.32.
A producer responsibility plan shall do all of the following:48695.34.
(a) The producer responsibility organization shall review its approved plan at least every five years and determine whether revisions are necessary.Article 5. Financial Provisions
48695.40.
The producer responsibility organization shall do all of the following:48695.42.
Each participant producer shall, through the producer responsibility organization, pay all administrative and operational costs associated with establishing and implementing the producer responsibility organization’s approved plan, including the cost of the collection, transportation, and safe and proper management of covered products.48695.44.
(a) Within four months of the effective date of the regulations described in Section 48695.02, CalRecycle shall notify the producer responsibility organization of the estimated regulatory costs for CalRecycle and DTSC and the criteria for the costs specified in the regulations. Those costs shall include the costs associated with developing the regulations and other CalRecycle and DTSC activities that occur before a producer responsibility plan’s submittal and approval, including, but not limited to, full personnel costs related to implementing and enforcing this chapter. The costs shall not exceed CalRecycle’s and DTSC’s actual and reasonable regulatory costs to implement and enforce this chapter.48695.46.
(a) If the producer responsibility plan relies on a local jurisdiction to collect or manage a covered product, or to otherwise comply with Section 48695.26, then the producer responsibility organization shall reimburse the local jurisdiction for the costs associated with the collection and management of the covered product.Article 6. Records, Audits, and Reports
48695.50.
(a) The producer responsibility organization shall keep board minutes, books, and records that clearly reflect the activities and transactions of the producer responsibility organization for a period of not less than five years.48695.52.
(a) A producer and the producer responsibility organization shall do both of the following:48695.54.
(a) The producer responsibility organization shall retain an independent certified public accountant, certified in the United States, to annually audit the accounting books of the producer responsibility organization. CalRecycle shall review the independent certified public accountant’s audit for compliance with this chapter and consistency with the producer responsibility organization’s approved plan and the annual report required by Section 48695.56. After CalRecycle conducts its own review, CalRecycle shall notify the producer responsibility organization of any conduct or practice that does not comply with this chapter or of any inconsistencies identified in the review. The producer responsibility organization may obtain copies of CalRecycle’s review, including proprietary information contained in CalRecycle’s review, upon request. The producer or producer responsibility organization may request CalRecycle withhold from disclosure confidential proprietary information to the extent allowed under Section 1040 of the Evidence Code and the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code).48695.56.
On or before January 1 of each year, the producer responsibility organization shall submit to CalRecycle, and make publicly available, an annual report, in a format prescribed by CalRecycle, that includes, at minimum, all of the following information for the preceding calendar year, unless otherwise specified:48695.58.
(a) No later than 120 days after the date CalRecycle receives an annual report pursuant to Section 48695.56, CalRecycle shall notify the producer responsibility organization if the annual report is compliant or noncompliant.Article 7. Enforcement
48695.60.
A retailer, dealer, importer, or distributor shall not sell, distribute, offer for sale, or import a covered product in or into the state unless the producer of the covered product is listed as a compliant producer pursuant to Section 48695.62 or received a certification letter described in subdivision (e) of Section 48695.62.48695.62.
(a) Within 12 months of the effective date of the regulations described in Section 48695.02, and on or before July 1 of each year thereafter, CalRecycle shall publish on CalRecycle’s internet website, a list of the names of producers that are compliant with this chapter. CalRecycle shall list, as appropriate, the reported brands of covered products for each producer.48695.64.
(a) CalRecycle may administratively impose on any person who is in violation of this chapter a civil penalty of up to the following amounts:48695.66.
(a) After the time for judicial review under Section 11523 of the Government Code has expired, CalRecycle may apply to the small claims court or superior court, depending on the jurisdictional amount and any other remedy sought, in the county where the penalties, restitution, or other remedy was imposed by CalRecycle, for a judgment to collect any unpaid civil penalties or restitution or to enforce any other remedy provided by this chapter. The application, which shall include a certified copy of the final agency order or decision, shall constitute a sufficient showing to warrant the issuance of the judgment. The court clerk shall enter the judgment immediately in conformity with the application. The judgment so entered shall have the same force and effect as, and shall be subject to all laws relating to, a judgment in a civil action and may be enforced in the same manner as any other judgment of the court. The court shall make enforcement of the judgment a priority.48695.68.
A producer shall not be subject to penalties pursuant to this article for noncompliance with subdivision (d) of Section 48695.10 until two years after the effective date of the regulations described in Section 48695.02.Article 8. Antitrust Immunity
48695.70.
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), an action that is taken by a producer or producer responsibility organization is not a violation of the Cartwright Act (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 16700) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code), the Unfair Practices Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 17000) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code), or the Unfair Competition Law (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 17200) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code) to the extent the producer or producer responsibility organization is exercising authority pursuant to this chapter.SEC. 4.
The Legislature finds and declares that Section 3 of this act, which adds Sections 48695.30 and 48695.54 to the Public Resources Code, imposes a limitation on the public’s right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:SEC. 5.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.Facilities serving the commercial fishing and recreational boating industries shall be protected and, where feasible, upgraded. Existing commercial fishing and recreational boating harbor space shall not be reduced unless the demand for those facilities no longer exists or unless adequate substitute space has been provided. Proposed recreational boating facilities shall, where feasible, be designed and located in such a fashion so as not to interfere with the needs of the commercial fishing industry.