SB 2050 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the recycling and disposal of consumer energy storage modules.

SB 2050 prohibits disposing of common household batteries (like lithium-ion, alkaline, nickel-cadmium, and nickel-metal hydride batteries) in regular trash. It requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to establish collection sites for recycling or proper disposal of these "consumer energy storage modules" by rule. The law affects all Texas residents who use such batteries, banning landfill disposal starting September 1, 2025. The bill defines these modules as devices storing energy for consumer products, including standard batteries found in electronics and devices.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 7, 2025 Last action May 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 8 edits · Apr 30, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was reformatted from an introduced draft to an engrossed version with significant substantive changes. The original text was incomplete and contained placeholder text, while the engrossed version includes complete legal definitions, expanded applicability rules, and new liability protections for consumers and facility operators.
Scope change
The bill's scope was significantly expanded from a basic prohibition on waste disposal to include detailed definitions, specific exemptions for certain battery types, and protections for both individual consumers and facility operators from liability when handling consumer energy storage modules.
DEFINITION

Added formal definition of 'consumer energy storage module' as batteries or electrochemical devices that store chemical energy for consumer products.

Added new definition for 'steward organization' as groups of manufacturers organized to promote recycling.

SCOPE

Changed prohibition from general mixed waste disposal to specific list of prohibited facilities including mixed municipal solid waste, mixed metal recycling, and municipal recyclable material facilities.

ELIGIBILITY

Added exemptions for lead-acid batteries, alkaline batteries, and batteries determined safe by the commission.

ENFORCEMENT

Added limited liability protection for individual consumers who inadvertently place modules in prohibited waste streams during noncommercial household use.

Added immunity from liability for facility operators when modules arrive through regular waste collection processes.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for commission to identify businesses where consumers can place modules for recycling or disposal.

Expanded commission rulemaking requirements to include identification of safe-for-disposal battery types.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
40
Key actions
13
Committee
12
Amendments
3
May 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
May 2, 2025
Committee
Referred to Environmental Regulation
lower
May 2, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
May 1, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Natural Resources
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors