Climate change: short-lived climate pollutants: organic waste reduction.

Broadened the definition of qualifying beneficial agricultural amendments from those 'processed with biosolids' to those 'processed with that may include biosolids.' This allows jurisdictions to count amendments derived from organic waste alone, without requiring biosolids as an input.

Added a new condition that the beneficial agricultural amendment must meet the requirements to be deemed to constitute a reduction in landfill disposal pursuant to Section 18983.1 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations (as it read on January 1, 2025). This ensures the material actually diverts waste from landfills.

Simplified subdivision (i)(1)(B) by removing the restated size thresholds (100 cubic yards and 750 square feet) and replacing them with a direct reference to 'composting operations that qualify as excluded activities pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 44019.'

Removed the redundant sentence 'Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to' that preceded the existing provision about not limiting the proportion of recovered organic waste products a jurisdiction can count.

The size threshold for composting operations eligible to count toward a jurisdiction's procurement target was increased from 100 cubic yards (and 750 square feet) to either 200 cubic yards or, for public agency-owned operations, 500 cubic yards. These amounts may be further increased by regulation. This makes it easier for larger composting facilities to qualify.

The provision allowing jurisdictions to count beneficial agricultural amendments toward their procurement target was narrowed to require that the material be specifically 'derived from organic waste processed with biosolids.' Previously, any beneficial agricultural amendment derived from organic waste could qualify if it met processing and registration requirements. The standalone subdivision (j) that allowed this broader category has been removed.

The requirement for CDFA approval of agricultural amendments was clarified from 'licensed registered or approved' to 'registered or approved,' removing the 'licensed' option.

A new provision (subdivision o) directs the department to consider developing a conversion factor for one ton of organic waste and one ton of compost applied locally, as well as other pathways to prioritize local use of compost in meeting procurement targets.

A new requirement was added that results of local waste characterization studies must be submitted to the department in a form and manner determined by the department, and the department may establish criteria for approving study methodology.

A new provision (subdivision p) authorizes the department to adopt emergency regulations to implement changes made by Chapter 508 of the Statutes of 2021, with those emergency regulations remaining in effect until January 1, 2024.

A cross-reference was added noting that composting operations qualifying as excluded activities under paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 44019 are included in the eligible operations list.

Beneficial agricultural amendments are no longer an uncapped, standalone credit. They are now one option within subdivision (k), which caps all qualifying products at 10 percent of a jurisdiction's recovered organic waste procurement target.

Subdivision (k) changed from requiring jurisdictions to count 'both of the following' products (mulch AND edible food recovery) to allowing 'any combination of the following' products, meaning a jurisdiction can now use just one type or mix them, including the new agricultural amendment option.

The requirement for agricultural amendments changed from being 'licensed for end use as an agricultural fertilizer' to being 'registered or approved for end use as a fertilizing material' by the Department of Food and Agriculture, citing specific code sections (14533 and 14601). This broadens the types of materials that qualify.

The exclusion for materials derived from solid waste disposal activities now references both Section 40192 and Section 40201, broadening the range of excluded processing activities.

New condition (C) in subdivision (j) excludes from procurement target credit any material that is derived from or processed using activities constituting 'solid waste disposal,' 'disposal,' or 'transformation' as defined in Section 40192, including facilities that produce fuels or energy through transformation, engineered municipal solid waste conversion, or other disposal activities.

New paragraph (2) in subdivision (j) requires that the amount of procured materials counted toward the procurement target be calculated using the dry weight of the materials, replacing any prior wet-weight or unspecified measurement basis.

Condition (B) in subdivision (j) now includes a clarifying reference specifying that the agricultural fertilizer license must be issued pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 14591) of Chapter 5 of Division 7 of the Food and Agricultural Code, making the applicable licensing authority more precise.

New subdivision (a)(12) requires the department to amend regulations by January 1, 2027 to include pipeline biomethane converted exclusively from organic waste diverted from a landfill as a recovered organic waste product that jurisdictions may procure toward their targets. This expands compliance pathways for local jurisdictions.

The separate amendment to Section 42654 (which stated the chapter does not limit local jurisdiction authority to adopt additional requirements) was removed from the bill. The digest language about making a 'nonsubstantive change' to local jurisdiction authority was also removed.

Subdivision (j) now specifies that technologies must be those approved pursuant to Chapter 12 of Title 14 regulations 'as it read on January 1, 2025,' effectively freezing the applicable technology standards at that date rather than allowing for future regulatory changes.

The agency name in subdivision (r) was changed from 'California Pollution Control Financing Authority' to 'Capital Programs and Climate Financing Authority,' reflecting a renaming of the state financing entity.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amended bill now has identifiable fiscal impacts requiring legislative fiscal committee review.

New subdivision (j) in Section 42652.5 allows a local jurisdiction to count organic material used as a beneficial agricultural amendment toward its recovered organic waste procurement target if two conditions are met: (1) the material is processed at a facility authorized by CalRecycle using technologies approved under Title 14 regulations, and (2) the material is licensed for end use as an agricultural fertilizer by the Department of Food and Agriculture.

The bill's scope expanded from amending only Section 42654 (a nonsubstantive local authority clarification) to also amending Section 42652.5, which governs CalRecycle's regulatory authority over organic waste reduction goals and procurement targets.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amended bill now has identified fiscal impacts requiring fiscal committee review.