Oregon legislation · 2026 Legislative Measures
Oregon HB4144: Relating to batteries.
Status: Chaptered, April 13, 2026
Digest: This Act says that makers of batteries must carry out a plan to collect and recycle batteries. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.1). Requires producers of batteries or battery-containing products to join a battery producer responsibility organization and implement a battery producer responsibility program for the collection and recycling of batteries. Directs the Department of Environmental Quality to administer and enforce requirements of the Act. Establishes the Battery Producer Responsibility Fund. Imposes civil penalties for violations of the Act.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 6, 2026:
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2026 Regular Session House Bill 4144 Sponsored by Representative LEVY E, Senator NERON MISSLIN, Representatives PHAM H, RIEKE SMITH, Senator SOLLMAN; Representatives ANDERSEN, CHOTZEN, FRAGALA, GAMBA, GOMBERG, HELM, ISADORE, LEVY B, LIVELY, MARSH, MCDONALD, NATHANSON, NELSON, WALTERS, Senators BROADMAN, FREDERICK, PATTERSON, PHAM K, PROZANSKI, REYNOLDS (Presession filed.) CHAPTER ................................................. Relating to batteries; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 459.995. BATTERY PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY ORGANIZATIONS SECTION 1. Sections added to chapter. Sections 2 to 17 of this 2026 Act are added to and made a part of ORS chapter 459A. SECTION 2. Definitions. As used in sections 2 to 17 of this 2026 Act: (1)(a) "Battery-containing product" means a product that contains or is packaged with a covered battery. (b) "Battery-containing product" does not include a covered electronic device as defined in ORS 459A.305. (2) "Battery producer responsibility organization" means a nonprofit organization designated by a group of five or more covered producers to act as an agent of the covered producers to develop and implement a battery producer responsibility program on behalf of the covered producers. (3) "Battery producer responsibility program" means a statewide program for the responsible management of covered batteries that is implemented by a battery producer responsibility organization pursuant to a plan approved by the Department of Environmental Quality under section 5 of this 2026 …