Recycling: precious metals and critical minerals: report.

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Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: McNerney
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Recycling Report on Precious Metals and Critical Minerals

This law requires California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to create a report about collecting, recycling, reusing, and storing precious metals and critical minerals within the state by January 1, 2028.

What This Bill Does

Requires the department to write a report on how precious metals and critical minerals are collected, recycled, reused, and stored in California by January 1, 2028.
Allows the department to ask for public input and talk with people who might be interested in the report's findings.
Gives the department permission to suggest ways industries can make better use of these materials.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery in California
Industries that deal with precious metals and critical minerals

Terms To Know

Circular Economy: A system where products are designed to be reused or recycled, reducing waste.
Critical Minerals: Minerals that are important for the economy and have no easy substitutes.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what will happen after the report is submitted.
It's unclear how much public input or industry outreach will be needed.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2025-05-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-04-07 California Legislative Information
April 7 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 7.
2025-03-20 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 421.) (March 19).
2025-03-07 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing March 19.
2025-03-04 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.
2025-02-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on E.Q.
2025-01-30 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 1.
2025-01-29 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 235, as amended, McNerney.
Recycling: precious metals and critical minerals: report.
Existing law establishes in the California Environmental Protection Agency the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, which administers various solid waste management and recycling programs.
This bill would require the department to draft and submit a report to the Legislature, on or before January 1, 2028, relating to the in-state collection, recycling, reuse, and stockpiling for domestic consumption of precious metals, critical minerals, as defined, and other similar valuable materials as reasonably decided by the department, contained within products in the state, as specified. The bill would require the department to provide opportunities for public input and to perform outreach to potentially interested parties, as specified. The bill also would authorize the department to make recommendations to
industries on the
promote a circular economy for precious metals, critical minerals, and other similar valuable materials within products, including, but not limited to,
best practices for product design to optimize the ability to recycle precious metals, critical minerals, and other similar valuable materials at the product’s end of life.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF