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House approves expansion of Battery Stewardship Act to cover EV propulsion batteries
Summary
Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 3, expanding Colorado’s Battery Stewardship Act to require producers and providers to finance collection, repurposing and recycling of electric‑vehicle propulsion batteries, add labeling/QR requirements and set critical‑mineral recovery targets.
The House passed Senate Bill 3 after floor debate that balanced environmental goals, consumer costs and industry concerns. The bill expands the existing Battery Stewardship Act to include propulsion batteries (those used to power electric and plug‑in hybrid vehicles) and requires registered propulsion battery providers to fund collection, dispositioning, and recycling systems, and to support workforce training for battery installers and recyclers.
Sponsors framed the bill as a first‑in‑the‑nation effort to create a circular economy for EV batteries, protect public safety and recover critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt and lithium for reuse. "This bill establishes a policy framework to ensure that unwanted EV batteries are accounted for at the end of their life…to protect the safety of Colorado communities and consumers," a sponsor told the chamber.
Opponents cautioned about costs, regulatory burden, and whether mandates would fall disproportionately on small businesses and rural communities. Some questioned whether market incentives and private sector programs already in place might be preferable. Lawmakers debated labeling, QR code data repositories, collection timelines, certification of recyclers and minimum mineral recovery targets (for example, 90% cobalt and nickel recovery by 2031, and higher lithium targets by 2035).
The bill prohibits disposal of propulsion batteries in landfills and establishes registration, reporting and recovery rate requirements for recyclers. It also phases in collection and labeling deadlines and sets penalties and enforcement mechanisms. The House adopted several technical and stakeholder amendments clarifying registration, reporting, and the role of remanufacturers and repurposers before final passage.
Supporters and opponents signaled continued engagement as the Department of Public Health and Environment and Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission develop implementing rules.
