SB 14: State agencies: solid waste diversion: single-use plastic bottles.
The bill aims to reduce solid waste in California by requiring state agencies to adopt integrated waste management plans. These plans must include descriptions of actions to source reduce certain materials. By 2027, each state agency must submit its plan for review and approval, and by 2028, the Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery must complete its review. The plans must also include summaries of the agencies' compliance with reducing solid waste by 50%. State agencies must also report their progress annually and provide advice to help reduce solid waste. The Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery must publish a list of products available for purchase that reduce plastic and paper waste by 2027. Additionally, the bill requires state agencies to purchase plastic beverage containers with at least 25% postconsumer recycled plastic by 2026 and 50% by 2030. If the commis…
| Aug. 29, 2025 | August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. |
| Aug. 20, 2025 | August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| Aug. 20, 2025 | August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file. |
| Jul. 10, 2025 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96. |
| Jul. 09, 2025 | Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on G.O. |
| Amended IN Assembly July 09, 2025 |
| Amended IN Senate May 23, 2025 |
| Amended IN Senate May 07, 2025 |
| Amended IN Senate April 23, 2025 |
| Amended IN Senate March 24, 2025 |
| Introduced by Senator Blakespear |
December 02, 2024 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
(2)Existing law generally governs the state procurement of materials, supplies, equipment, and services. Existing law also provides various procedures and requirements pertaining to the purchase of recycled items by the state, including minimum content requirements for recycled plastic products. Existing law requires the Department of General Services, in consultation with specified parties, to provide state agencies with information and assistance regarding environmentally preferable purchasing, including, but not limited to, the promotion of environmentally preferable purchasing and the development and implementation of a strategy to increase environmentally preferable purchasing.
This bill would, with certain exceptions, prohibit state agencies from entering into, modifying, amending, or renewing a contract, on or after January 1, 2026, to purchase single-use plastic bottles, as defined, made of less than 90% recycled plastic for internal use or resale and would require state agencies to take appropriate steps to replace the use of single-use plastic bottles at food service facilities with nonplastic, recyclable, and reusable alternatives, as specified. The bill would require the Department of General Services to ensure that any new, modified, or renewed agreements, contracts, or procurement undertaken by a food service facility as part of a contract or agreement with the Department of General Services comply with the bill, as specified. The bill would require state agencies to submit a report, on or before January 1, 2027, to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, confirming its compliance with these requirements. The bill would define a state agency for these purposes to include various agencies.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
(a)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (4), a state agency shall not enter into, modify, amend, or renew a contract to purchase single-use plastic bottles made of less than 90 percent recycled plastic for internal use or resale.
(2)The Legislature encourages every state agency to install and maintain at least one, or maintain at least one existing, water bottle refill station located to ensure maximum access by all visitors and to allow visitors to bring their own reusable beverage bottle for use at water bottle refill stations.
(3)A state agency shall take appropriate steps to replace the use of single-use plastic bottles at food service facilities with nonplastic, recyclable, and reusable alternatives, including, but not limited to, glass bottles, aluminum cans, water fountains, or water bottle refill stations for reusable or refillable beverage containers.
(4)(A)A state agency may enter into or renew a contract to purchase single-use plastic bottles made of less than 90 percent recycled plastic only when reasonably necessary to protect the general health, safety, and welfare in preparing for or responding to an emergency.
(B)The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may enter into or renew a contract to purchase single-use plastic bottles made of less than 90 percent recycled plastic for either of the following reasons:
(i)To provide single-use plastic bottles for sale in a canteen pursuant to Section 5005 of the Penal Code.
(ii)To provide bottled water as required by, or for the purposes of, Sections 3408 and 4023.8 of the Penal Code.
(5)(A)The Department of General Services shall ensure that any new, modified, or renewed agreements, contracts, or procurement undertaken by a food service facility as part of a contract or agreement with the Department of General Services complies with the requirements of this section.
(B)The Department of General Services shall take appropriate steps, including, but not limited to, revising relevant state contracting and procurement rules and procedures, in order to fulfill the requirements of subparagraph (A).
(b)(1)On or before January 1, 2027, a state agency shall submit a report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee confirming its compliance with this section.
(2)The report shall be submitted in conformance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(c)This section applies only to contracts entered into, modified, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.
(d)This section does not limit the duties of a state agency under a collective bargaining agreement entered into or renewed before January 1, 2026.
(e)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)“Food service facility” means an operation or business that is located in a state-owned facility, operating on or acting as a concessionaire on state property, or under contract to provide food service to a state agency and that stores, serves, vends, or offers for sale bottled beverages. “Food service facility” may include, but is not limited to, a cafeteria, commissary, restaurant, deli, store, shop, market, or mobile food unit.
(2)“Plastic” has the same meaning as in subdivision (t) of Section 42041 of the Public Resources Code.
(3)“Reusable” has the same meaning as in subdivision (af) of Section 42041 of the Public Resources Code.
(4)“Single-use plastic bottle” means a beverage in a sealed plastic bottle with a capacity of less than 24 fluid ounces, but does not include milk or 100 percent fruit juice.
(5)“State agency” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision (m) of Section 12200, but does not include the California State University.
(6)“Water bottle refill station” means a bottle filler that dispenses potable drinking water downward that complies with Section 116875 of the Health and Safety Code, applicable standards under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-336; 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), and accessibility requirements applicable to drinking fountains under the California Building Standards Code.
SECTION 1.
Section 12203 of the Public Contract Code is amended to read:12203.
Each state agency shall ensure each of the following:SEC. 2.
Section 42920 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:42920.
(a) The department shall adopt a state agency model integrated waste management plan for source reduction, recycling, and composting activities.SEC. 3.
Section 42926 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:42926.
(a) In addition to the information provided to the department pursuant to Section 12167.1 of the Public Contract Code, each state agency shall submit an annual report to the department summarizing its progress in reducing solid waste as required by Section 42921. The annual report shall be due on or before May 1 of each year. The information in this report shall encompass the previous calendar year.SEC. 4.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.