Recycling: market development payments: polyethylene terephthalate plastic.

Removed the amendment to Vehicle Code Section 12511 that would have exempted a person from the prohibition on possessing more than one driver's license if they held both a digital driver's license issued under the Section 13020 pilot program and a physical driver's license.

The bill's stated purpose now references only Section 14549.2 of the Public Resources Code (recycling) rather than also referencing Section 12511 of the Vehicle Code (driver's licenses).

Vote and appropriation lines were cleaned up: 'majority 2/3' changed to '2/3', and 'no yes' changed to 'yes' for both Appropriation and Fiscal committee fields, reflecting that the bill is now purely an appropriation measure.

A stray '(1).' was added at the end of subdivision (d)(2) of Section 14549.2, which appears to be a clerical error rather than a substantive change.

Added an entirely new recycling component amending Section 14549.2 of the Public Resources Code to require the department to establish singular market development payments for empty PET plastic beverage containers and for PET plastic processed into flake or pellet.

Authorizes the department to expend up to $35,000,000 annually for market development payments to reclaimers and product manufacturers, making an appropriation from the Beverage Container Recycling Fund.

Sets a maximum payment of $300 per ton for PET plastic collected on or after October 1, 2025, with the department allowed to reduce the level only as necessary based on fund availability. Payments require in-state collection, washing, processing, and manufacturing.

Adds definitions for certified entity, plastic product, product manufacturer, and reclaimer within Section 14549.2 of the Public Resources Code.

Extends the department's authority to pay market development payments from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2029 (with repeal as of January 1, 2030).

Removes the sunset provision from the driver's license section (Section 12511), which previously made the digital license exemption inoperative on July 1, 2026. The exemption now has no stated expiration date.

Changes the vote requirement from a simple majority to a two-thirds supermajority, and declares the bill an urgency statute to take effect immediately rather than on the standard July 1 date.

Adds a provision allowing the department to recommend future funding levels to the Legislature based on market conditions, infrastructure needs, and circular economy goals.

Amendment header updated from 'AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 1, 2025' to 'AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 22, 2025' with the Assembly date retained below, reflecting the bill's progression through the legislature.

Corrected duplicated word in the short title: 'amend amend, repeal, and add' changed to 'amend, repeal, and add amend Section 12511.'

Corrected duplicated word in the legislative digest: 'would would, until July 1, 2026, exempt' changed to 'would, until July 1, 2026, would exempt.'

Page numbers adjusted from 98 to 97 due to minor text length changes.

Added subsection (c) to Section 12511 stating the section becomes inoperative on July 1, 2026 and is repealed as of January 1, 2027.

Added a new Section 12511 (via SEC. 2) that takes effect on July 1, 2026, containing only the prohibition on holding more than one driver's license with no digital license exemption, effectively ending the pilot program's legal protection for dual-license holders.

The bill's short title was expanded from 'amend Section 12511' to 'amend, repeal, and add Section 12511' to reflect the new sunset-and-replace structure.