Hazardous waste: solar photovoltaic modules.

Section 25259.1 was deleted in its entirety. This section had restricted the universal waste designation to solar PV modules that are intended for recycling and cannot be resold, reused, or refurbished, and limited that status to only until DTSC adopts alternative management standards.

The requirement for DTSC to institute a rulemaking to develop alternative management standards for solar PV modules that facilitate greater material recovery was removed along with Section 25259.1.

The designation of solar PV modules that can be resold, reused, or refurbished as 'surplus material' (as defined in Title 22, Section 66260.10) was removed.

Section 25259 had the phrase 'Subject to this article, the' removed from its opening, a conforming change reflecting the deletion of Section 25259.1 which had been the operative limitation.

The entire amendment to Section 25143.2 of the Health and Safety Code was removed. This section dealt with exclusions from hazardous waste classification for recyclable materials, including a specific provision for solar PV modules transferred to legitimate recyclers under federal transfer-based exclusion rules.

The exemption in former Section 25259.1(b) was removed. That provision had exempted solar PV modules not identified as hazardous waste and treated as universal waste from state hazardous waste regulations if transferred to a designated recycler for legitimate recycling meeting specific facility criteria.

Former Section 25259.1(c), which required solar PV modules to comply with paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 25143.2, was removed along with the rest of that section's amendments.

Based on the evaluation findings, the department may adopt the federal regulation by rulemaking and apply it to end-of-life photovoltaic modules identified as hazardous waste. The evaluation must include factors required under Section 25159.5 and the Administrative Procedure Act.

A new subdivision (b) was added to Section 25259 requiring the department to convene public workshops on or before July 1, 2028, for interested parties to comment on the applicability of federal Section 261.4(a)(24) to hazardous waste streams including solar PV modules generated in California.

The department is required to consider workshop feedback and evaluate the applicability of the federal transfer-based exclusion to solar PV modules as an alternative to state standards on or before July 1, 2029.

New subdivision (b) in Section 25259.1 requires the department to institute a rulemaking to (1) develop alternative management standards for solar photovoltaic modules that facilitate greater material recovery, and (2) adopt the federal transfer-based exclusion under Section 261.4(a)(24) of Title 40 CFR for solar photovoltaic modules.

Section 25143.2(b)(4) was simplified: the old version required solar PV modules subject to the federal transfer-based exclusion to comply with both Section 25143.9 and Section 66273.33.6(a)(1)(B). The new version removes the Section 25143.9 requirement, leaving only compliance with Section 66273.33.6(a)(1)(B).

Section 25259.1(a)(1) now cross-references 'paragraph (1) of subdivision (b)' when describing the alternative management standards, tying the sunset of the universal waste designation to the specific new rulemaking requirement.

Section numbering was corrected: the old version labeled Section 25259 as 'SEC. 2' and Section 25259.1 as 'SEC. 3'; the new version uses 'SECTION 1' and 'SEC. 2' respectively, fixing an internal numbering inconsistency.

A typo in Section 25259.1(b) was corrected: 'Code of Federal Regulation, Regulations' was changed to 'Code of Federal Regulations.'

Section 25143.2(b)(4) now explicitly requires that solar photovoltaic modules be transferred to a legitimate recycler as described in Section 260.43 of Title 40 CFR, tying the state provision directly to the federal definition of legitimate recycler rather than just referencing 'a legitimate recycling facility.'

A new compliance requirement was added at the end of Section 25143.2(b)(4): solar PV modules managed under this subdivision must also comply with Section 66273.33.6(a)(1)(B) of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, which is a state recycling program regulation.

Section 25259.1(b) removed the detailed description of what facility criteria include (proper management practices, notification to the regulatory agency, and adherence to limitations on types and quantities of materials handled). The provision now simply references Sections 18104 to 18104.9 of Title 14 CCR without elaborating on their contents, making the exemption less prescriptive in the statute itself.

Fixed 'Code of Federal Regulation' to 'Code of Federal Regulations' (added the missing 's') in Section 25259.1(b).

Corrected a duplicate reference in the bill title from 'Section 25259 Sections 25143.2 and 25259' to 'Sections 25143.2 and 25259,' and fixed a duplicated word 'treated treated' to 'treated' in the legislative digest.

A new Section 1 amending Health and Safety Code Section 25143.2 is added, creating a broad framework for excluding recyclable materials from hazardous waste classification. This includes provisions for petroleum refinery waste, used oil, spent solvents, fuels, chlorofluorocarbons, and other materials, along with record-keeping requirements and carve-outs that keep certain materials fully regulated as hazardous waste.

The universal waste designation for solar PV modules is now limited: it only applies to modules that are intended for recycling AND cannot otherwise be resold, reused, or refurbished. It also has a sunset - it only applies until the department adopts regulations implementing alternative management standards for solar PV modules.

The bill's title and digest now reference Section 25143.2 in addition to Sections 25259 and 25259.1, reflecting the expanded scope from a narrow solar PV module exemption to a broader recyclable materials framework with solar PV modules as one application.

New Section 25143.2(b)(4) requires solar photovoltaic modules subject to the federal transfer-based exclusion (RCRA Section 261.4(a)(24)) to be managed in accordance with those federal requirements and to comply with Section 25143.9 for recyclable materials.

New subdivision (c) of Section 25259.1 requires that every solar photovoltaic module comply with the federal transfer-based exclusion requirements in the new Section 25143.2(b)(4).

A new provision designates solar photovoltaic modules that can be resold, reused, or refurbished as surplus material (as defined in Title 22 CCR Section 66260.10), rather than treating them as universal waste.