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HB 1602 · 2026 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

Battery recycling stewardship program

AI-generated

creating a safe battery recycling stewardship program.

Establishes a statewide battery stewardship program requiring safe collection, recycling, and management of covered batteries and battery-containing products through producer participation and oversight by the department of environmental services.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · April 23, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill establishes a statewide battery stewardship program that requires safe collection, recycling, and management of covered batteries and battery-containing products, administered through producer participation and oversight by the department of environmental services.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Karen EbelDPrimeRanking Member· Finance Division 1
  • Rep. Anita BurroughsDRanking Member· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Rep. Carry SpierDDeputy Ranking Member· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Rep. Judy AronRChair· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Liz BarbourRVice Chair· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Peter BixbyDRanking Member· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. James CreightonRChair· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Rep. Jim MaggioreDDeputy Ranking Member· Municipal and County Government
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Denise RicciardiRDeputy Majority Leader
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip

Also: Rep. Dick ThackstonR, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

109 signed in online · 27 wrote testimony

94% support3% oppose3% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I wholeheartedly support this bill as a way to add clarity and resources for battery disposal and recycling in our communities. I have an area of my town where I collect all manner of trash thrown by the roadside. I cringe when I come upon batteries on the roadside.…”
— Deborah Hoover, New Londonsupports
“Proper handling and recycling of batteries supports the goals of our state Solid Waste Management Plan.”
— Deborah Steadman, Franklinsupports
“This is like similar “Extended Producer Responsibility” bills this season which I agree with wholeheartedly, This bill would transfer costs of disposal from the municipalities and taxpayers to the producers. Expected to save municipalities at least $150,000 annually.…”
— Sharon Racusin, Hanoversupports

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-2010:45 amHouse Environment and AgricultureGP 153Public hearing
  • 2026-01-2710:00 amHouse Environment and AgricultureGP 153Public hearing
  • 2026-02-039:15 amHouse Environment and AgricultureGP 153Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2026-03-1310:00 amHouse Finance - Division IGP 230Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2026-03-1710:00 amHouse FinanceGP 230Public hearing
  • 2026-04-159:15 amSenate Ways and MeansSH 122-123Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 1 P. 27
  2. Jan 20, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/20/2026 01:00 pm GP 153
  3. Jan 27, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 01/27/2026 10:00 am GP 153
  4. Feb 3, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/03/2026 09:15 am GP 153
  5. Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 09:15 am GP 153
  6. Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0405h 02/03/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 7 P. 11
  7. Feb 16, 2026HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. McFarlane, Granger, Tim Mannion, DeRoy, Drew, Mehegan, C. McGuire, Farrington, Noble, Walker) 02/16/2026 HJ 5 P. 3
  8. Feb 19, 2026HouseLay HB1602 on Table (Rep. McFarlane): MF RC 84-254 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 116
  9. Feb 19, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0405h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 114
  10. Feb 19, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0405h: MA RC 264-72 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 118
  11. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 120
  12. Mar 13, 2026HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/13/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  13. Mar 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  14. Mar 17, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study 03/17/2026 (Vote 13-11; RC)
  15. Mar 19, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1166h
  16. Mar 26, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MF RC 128-226 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 24
  17. Mar 26, 2026HouseFLAM # 2026-1278h (Rep. Ebel): AA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 27
  18. Mar 26, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1278h: MA RC 244-112 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 32
  19. Mar 26, 2026SenIntroduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Ways and Means; SJ 7
  20. Apr 15, 2026SenHearing: 04/15/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 10:00 am; SC 13
  21. Apr 23, 2026Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate, 04/23/2026, Vote 3-0; SC 15
  22. Apr 23, 2026SenInexpedient to Legislate, MF, VV; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  23. Apr 23, 2026SenSen. Rosenwald Move to Refer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 04/23/2026; SJ 10

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.