Solid waste: organic waste: diversion: biomethane.

The bill header changed from the enrolled format (showing passage dates by Assembly and Senate, clerk signatures, and a blank line for the governor's receipt date) to the chaptered format showing 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL,' the chapter number (678), and the governor's approval date of October 13, 2025.

Page numbering changed from page 95 with 'AB 70' headers to page 94 with 'Ch. 678' headers, reflecting the different pagination used in the compiled statutes versus the enrolled bill.

Pipeline biomethane can now only count toward a jurisdiction's recovered organic waste product procurement target if it is converted from waste that is diverted from a landfill pursuant to Section 39730.6 of the Health and Safety Code, in addition to being consistent with the Public Utilities Code definition. Previously, it only needed to be 'converted exclusively from organic waste' as defined in the Public Utilities Code.

The legislative counsel's digest no longer lists 'pyrolysis' as a subject of the bill, though the pyrolysis definition (Section 40178) remains in the operative text. This may signal a reduced emphasis on pyrolysis as a policy focus.

A duplicate word ('to to') was corrected in the short title of the act, and page/line numbering was adjusted throughout.

Header changed from 'Amended in Senate September 5, 2025' to enrolled bill format showing passage dates (Assembly September 11, 2025; Senate September 10, 2025) and Governor receipt block. This is a standard procedural step with no policy impact.

Legislative counsel's digest changed from 'AB 70, as amended' to 'AB 70', removing the 'as amended' designation now that the bill has passed both chambers in final form.

Body text reformatted from line-numbered amendment markup to clean enrolled bill format. All substantive provisions (pyrolysis definition, organic waste regulations, biomethane inclusion, rural exemptions, penalty schedules, and AB 786 incorporation) remain unchanged in content.

Added a conditional provision incorporating additional changes to Section 42652.5 of the Public Resources Code as proposed by AB 786. These incorporated changes would take effect only if both AB 70 and AB 786 are enacted, and only if AB 70 is enacted last. This prevents conflicting amendments to the same section from creating legal uncertainty.

Added a lengthy legislative findings section (Section 1) establishing the policy rationale for accelerating organic waste diversion, citing methane's climate impact, cost-effectiveness of organic waste investments, and the Little Hoover Commission's recommendations.

The bill's scope expanded from a single definitional addition (pyrolysis) to a multi-section bill amending Section 42652.5 with over 17 new subdivisions covering regulations, penalties, exemptions, procurement targets, and enforcement mechanisms.

Added pipeline biomethane converted exclusively from organic waste as a recovered organic waste product that jurisdictions may procure to meet their targets, with CalRecycle required to amend regulations by January 1, 2027 to include it.

Added mulch produced from tree trimming operations and edible food recovered from commercial food generators as products countable toward procurement targets, each capped at up to 10 percent of a jurisdiction's target.

Added direct expenditures (community composting investments, compost/mulch application equipment, distribution sites) as countable toward procurement targets up to 10 percent, with a conversion factor of $21.38 per ton until CalRecycle adopts regulations setting a different factor.

Added vermicomposting operations, small composting operations (under 100 cubic yards and 750 square feet), and mushroom compost as eligible products countable toward procurement targets, subject to an ordinance or enforceable mechanism requirement.

Extended the rural exemption from organic waste collection and procurement requirements until January 1, 2037, with CalRecycle required to adopt regulations for renewing exemptions in five-year periods after that date.

Added a five-year recovered organic waste product procurement target option available starting January 1, 2027, allowing jurisdictions to meet their obligation over a five-year period rather than annually.

Added a notification of intent to comply process allowing local jurisdictions with continuing violations during 2022 to receive administrative civil penalty relief and corrective action plans, with specific filing deadlines (March 1, 2022) and department response timelines (45 business days).

Added authority for CalRecycle 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.

Added provisions allowing local jurisdictions to use waste characterization studies (performed within the prior five years) to determine a local per capita procurement target for up to five years after study completion.

Added a declaratory provision stating that free provision or incentive payments for compost or mulch by a jurisdiction constitutes a public purpose and is not a gift of public funds in violation of the California Constitution.