An Act to create 20.370 (4) (ht) of the statutes; Relating to: funding for a battery collection and recycling program and making an appropriation. (FE)
Summary
SB895 creates a new statutory appropriation account for Wisconsin’s battery collection and recycling program. It directs all money received by the Department of Natural Resources from battery stewardship organizations, as provided in a separate battery stewardship law, to be deposited from the environmental fund and used to implement the battery collection and recycling program under s. 287.175.
The bill is structured as a funding measure tied to companion legislation. It expressly states that if the related battery stewardship bill is not enacted during the 2025-26 session, this act becomes void. In effect, SB895 does not establish the recycling program itself; rather, it provides the fiscal mechanism for administering and funding that program if the underlying policy bill is adopted.
Impact
SB895 would amend Wisconsin statutes by creating s. 20.370 (4) (ht), establishing a dedicated appropriation for battery collection and recycling. The practical effect is to route stewardship fees collected by the Department of Natural Resources into program implementation, giving DNR a defined funding source for battery recycling activities. Because the bill is contingent on enactment of related legislation, its legal effect depends on passage of the companion battery stewardship measure.
Sentiment
The available record shows limited direct debate or recorded votes, so there is no detailed committee sentiment to assess. The bill’s introduction and referral suggest it was treated as a technical or fiscal companion to broader battery stewardship legislation rather than a standalone policy proposal. Its eventual failure to pass indicates the proposal did not advance through the legislative process, but the context provided does not show specific opposition or support arguments.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the bill’s dependence on separate battery stewardship legislation, since SB895 is void unless the companion bill is enacted. That makes its fate tied to the broader debate over battery producer responsibility, stewardship fees, and the structure of a statewide battery collection and recycling program. Any disagreement would likely center on whether the state should create a dedicated funding stream through DNR and how battery stewardship organizations should be assessed and regulated.
Crossfiled
An Act to create 20.370 (4) (ht) of the statutes; Relating to: funding for a battery collection and recycling program and making an appropriation. (FE)
Packaging reduction and recycling, creating a producer responsibility program, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty.
Packaging reduction and recycling, creating a producer responsibility program, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty.