Senate committee advances AB 720 to delay bottle‑bill labeling deadline, grandfather some winery bottles

Assemblymember Rogers, the author of AB 720, told the Senate Environmental Quality Committee that the bill "actually started as a really simple bill" to help California wineries and that it now addresses delays and conflicting guidance tied to the state's expanded bottle‑bill program.

"The regulations were actually due this year and are still not done," Rogers said, describing what the bill would do in part as an extension of the implementation date so producers have time to comply.

The bill would delay the labeling compliance date adopted when SB 1013 (Atkins, 2022) expanded the California container redemption program and would clarify the use of QR codes in place of CRV (California redemption value) wording. "Diligently, folks followed that guidance, printed bottles. We're talking, tens of millions of dollars of investment from wineries in terms of the bottling and the equipment, only to have then now guidance come back, changing that after folks have been through the process," Rogers said, arguing AB 720 would "grandfather in those bottles so that they don't go to waste."

Tim Schmelzer with the Wine Institute said the delay "will help get caught up and ensure everybody's in compliance" and emphasized that most wineries newly subject to the bottle‑bill program are small businesses that print multiple labels each year. Schmelzer added that the extension would not relieve wineries of their registration or fee obligations under the program: "If you take any wine bottle, regardless of whether it's labeled, you still get your deposit back when you pay it."

Leticia Garcia with the California Retailers Association said the association supported AB 720 and explained the regulatory timetable that prompted the bill. Garcia noted that SB 1013 required labeling compliance by July 1, 2025, but that CalRecycle's implementing regulations were still in rulemaking. "AB 720 simply extends the labeling compliance date by 1 year to allow the regulations to take effect and codifies requirements for the use of a QR code in place of the CRV verbiage on beverage containers," Garcia said.

Supporters at the hearing included representatives of the distilled spirits and grocery industries and several producers. Gavin McHugh (Distilled Spirits Council), Kate Bell (Pernod Ricard), Louis Brown (Law Offices of Consorts & Conway, on behalf of the California Grocers Association), Cesar Diaz (Diageo), and Anna Vasquez (Dodd & Siobhan Strategies, on behalf of the California Distillers Association and Jackson Family Wines) each registered support on behalf of those organizations.

Senator Manjavar asked for specific examples of what the labeling requirement looked like; committee witnesses described the options—using the letters "CRV," the phrase "California redemption value," or a scannable QR code that could link to recycling information—and explained that CalRecycle's later guidance increased an originally provided QR‑code size from one‑half inch to three‑quarters of an inch after some producers had already printed bottles.

With no opposition at the microphone, the committee moved to a vote. The committee voted repeatedly as members returned to the hearing room; the measure was approved on the committee floor and will move to the Senate for further consideration.

Votes at a glance: AB 720 — Motion: return the measure to the Senate floor for consideration. Outcome: passed on committee voice/roll calls; recorded tallies reached 7 yes, 0 no (final recorded result: 7–0).

The bill's supporters said the change aims to avoid enforcement against producers who followed earlier guidance, to preserve consumer access to products on store shelves, and to give CalRecycle time to finalize regulatory text. Committee staff and witnesses emphasized that other program requirements—registration and fees—remain in effect while the labeling compliance date is extended.

If AB 720 advances from the Senate floor, further legislative action or final CalRecycle rules will be necessary before the new labeling requirements are enforced. The hearing on AB 720 was the committee's only item and adjourned after the vote.