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Senator raises funding and trade concerns as committee advances mattress‑collection program
Summary
During the March 4 Senate Finance Committee meeting, senators advanced S1463, a Kavanaugh bill to establish a mattress collection program under the Environmental Conservation Law, after a senator raised concerns that the bill lacks a point‑of‑sale funding fee and could shift costs to U.S. manufacturers given international mattress imports.
The Senate Finance Committee on March 4 advanced S1463, a bill sponsored by Senator Kavanaugh to amend the Environmental Conservation Law to establish a mattress collection program.
A senator raised substantive funding and trade concerns during debate, noting that the draft bill does not include a point‑of‑sale fee to fund mattress recycling. The senator said: "There has been a number of issues raised on this particular legislation because it does not have that point of sale fee on it as a way of providing funding for the mattress recycling efforts." The same senator cited international trade concerns and said, "The International Trade Commission has found that 14 countries are guilty of dumping, under priced, under cost, below cost mattresses. China leading the way, on that, and concerns over whether we're really gonna collect any contribution on this mattress recycling program from those out of country, producers." The senator also noted an opposition memo from a labor organization, saying there is an opposition memo from "Workers United" expressing concern that the funding approach would place the cost burden on U.S. manufacturers.
Committee Chair Liz Krueger acknowledged the concerns and said the committee could "bring [the] concern to the sponsor." Senator Parker moved the bill and Senator Sepulveda seconded it. The transcript records one recorded nay and at least one member recorded as "without rec." Despite the reservations raised, the committee moved the bill to the Senate floor for further consideration.
The discussion in committee centered on funding design for product stewardship programs, international market effects on producer contributions, and union concerns about how obligations would be allocated. No amendments were adopted in committee; committee minutes show the matter will proceed to the floor where sponsors or other members may offer changes.
