CaliforniaCalifornia raises supermarket cutoff and protects recycling options
California raises the sales cutoff for supermarkets, protects recycling options in zones with certified vending machines, and extends emergency handling-fee rules through June 2032.
What it does
A store must have at least $6 million in annual sales to count as a supermarket. The department must consult a retail industry guide when deciding which dealers qualify, while previously eligible recycling centers keep their handling fees.
A certified machine will not make an unserved zone count as served, even if it runs many hours. A cooperative or mobile unit may still operate and receive program payments there, and an existing certified center may keep its handling fees.
Emergency rules for calculating recycling-site handling fees will remain in effect through June 30, 2032. The fee method must account for operating costs and other listed factors, and the department’s regulations must take effect by July 1, 2026.
Argument forConsumers could keep more ways to return containers because a certified machine cannot block a cooperative or mobile unit from operating in the same zone.
Argument againstStores below the new $6 million sales cutoff could lose supermarket status, though centers already eligible for handling fees keep that eligibility.
More detail
The department must use a revised definition of supermarket when identifying dealers. A supermarket must be a full-line, self-service store with at least $6 million in annual sales that sells groceries, drinks, nonfood items, or some perishable items. The department must consult the latest annual update to the Progressive Grocer Marketing Guidebook and other relevant updates. Recycling centers eligible for handling fees immediately before the change remain eligible afterward. The revised definition applies on the act’s immediate effective date.
A certified reverse vending machine does not make an unserved zone count as served or block a cooperative or mobile unit from operating and receiving program payments there. These rules apply when a reverse vending machine is certified as a recycling center in a convenience zone. The machine must still meet the minimum operating hours for recycling centers and remains subject to other applicable laws and regulations. These rules take effect immediately.
The department must use emergency regulations to set handling fees through June 30, 2032. This applies to handling fees paid to eligible recycling sites from the beverage container recycling program. The method must reflect costs of providing and maintaining recycling in convenience zones, including transportation, labor, volume, consumer convenience, and recycling rates. The department must adopt emergency regulations establishing the method and fee; they must take effect no later than July 1, 2026. The emergency regulations remain in effect through June 30, 2032.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 18Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 319, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 18Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 2Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 27Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5986.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Special Consent SB955 Blakespear et al. Urgency Clause. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 26Ordered to special consent calendar.
- Aug 24In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 955 Blakespear Third Reading Urgency By Michelle Rodriguez. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 24Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6421.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jun 23From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 23Coauthors revised.
- Jun 22
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 1Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.Minor
- May 22In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded Special Consent (Urgency Clause). Result: pass.Upper
- May 22Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 33. Noes 0. Page 4417.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- May 20Ordered to special consent calendar.
- May 19Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 18Ordered to second reading.Minor
- May 18Read third time and amended.Major
- May 14Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4259.) (May 14).Minor
- May 8Set for hearing May 14.
- Apr 20April 20 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 14Set for hearing April 20.
- Apr 9Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Apr 8From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 3792.) (April 8).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 18From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.Major
- Mar 11Set for hearing April 8.
- Mar 9March 18 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Feb 25Set for hearing March 18.
- Feb 11Referred to Com. on E.Q.Minor
- Feb 3From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 5.
- Feb 2Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
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