Kentucky SB49 Establishes Covered Battery Stewardship Program
Summary
Kentucky Governor signed SB49 into law on April 10, 2026, establishing the Covered Battery Stewardship Program under KRS Chapter 224. The Energy and Environment Cabinet must implement the program, which prohibits disposal of covered batteries in solid waste or recycling containers and creates a voluntary registration system for battery stewardship organizations. Affected parties must submit annual reports beginning June 30, 2027.
What changed
SB49 creates new sections of KRS Chapter 224 establishing the Covered Battery Stewardship Program. The Energy and Environment Cabinet is required to maintain a website list of covered battery collection sites and transporter contact information. Voluntary battery stewardship organizations must submit stewardship plans for cabinet approval and provide annual reports detailing collection and recovery efforts beginning June 30, 2027.\n\nManufacturers, retailers, and other entities handling covered batteries should monitor cabinet guidance on program implementation. Organizations wishing to operate as battery stewardship organizations must complete the registration process and submit compliant stewardship plans. The disposal prohibition means entities must ensure covered batteries are diverted from solid waste streams.
What to do next
- Register as a voluntary battery stewardship organization with the Energy and Environment Cabinet
- Submit annual reports on covered battery collection, recovery, and educational outreach by June 30, 2027
- Comply with battery disposal prohibitions in solid waste or recycling containers
Archived snapshot
Apr 11, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Kentucky / SB49 Signed by Governor SB49 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-10
AN ACT relating to battery stewardship.
Create new sections of Subchapter 50 of KRS Chapter 224 to define terms; prohibit the disposal of covered batteries in solid waste disposal or recycling containers; require the Energy and Environment Cabinet to establish the Covered Battery Stewardship Program; provide for the purposes of the program, including fostering the creation of voluntary battery stewardship organizations; provide for the collaboration with stakeholders in establishing the Covered Battery Stewardship Program; require the cabinet to maintain on its website a list of covered battery collection sites and contact information for transporters of covered batteries; establish the registration process and requirements for voluntary battery stewardship organizations; establish minimum requirements for voluntary battery stewardship plans to be submitted to the cabinet for approval; require each voluntary battery stewardship organization to submit an annual report to the cabinet detailing its covered battery collection, recovery, and educational outreach efforts beginning June 30, 2027.
Bill Details
State Kentucky
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/sb49.html
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Sponsors
Greg Elkins (Sen - R) Rick Girdler (Sen - R) Steve Rawlings (Sen - R)
Action History
2026-04-10 S signed by Governor 2026-03-31 S delivered to Governor 2026-03-31 S enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House 2026-03-31 S enrolled, signed by President of the Senate 2026-03-31 S passed 38-0 2026-03-31 S Senate concurred in Committee Amendment (1) 2026-03-27 S passed over and retained for concurrence in House Committee Amendment (1) 2026-03-27 S posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Amendment (1) 2026-03-27 S taken from Rules 2026-03-27 S to Rules (S) 2026-03-27 S received in Senate 2026-03-26 H 3rd reading, passed 86-0 with Committee Amendment (1) 2026-03-20 H posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026 2026-03-20 H 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-03-19 H reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Amendment (1) 2026-03-17 H to Natural Resources & Energy (H) 2026-01-22 H to Committee on Committees (H) 2026-01-22 H received in House 2026-01-21 S 3rd reading, passed 37-0 2026-01-20 S passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day 2026-01-16 S posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, January 20, 2026 2026-01-15 S 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-01-14 S reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar 2026-01-12 S to Natural Resources & Energy (S) 2026-01-07 S to Committee on Committees (S) 2026-01-07 S introduced in Senate
Votes
2026-01-21 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3767 Yea: 37 Nay: 0 2026-03-26 House: Veto Override RCS# 328 Yea: 86 Nay: 0 2026-03-31 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4072 Yea: 38 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-07 S Committee on Committees 2026-01-12 S Natural Resources and Energy 2026-01-15 S Rules 2026-01-22 H Committee On Committees 2026-03-17 H Natural Resources & Energy 2026-03-20 H Rules 2026-03-27 S Rules
Amendments
0000-00-00 House Committee Amendment
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed 0000-00-00 Enrolled
Subjects
Environment and Conservation Notices Reports Mandated Safety State Agencies Waste Management Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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