HB 310 New Mexico House · 2025 Regular Session

RESPONSIBLE ELECTRIC CAR BATTERY END OF LIFE

HB 310 prohibits landfilling of electric vehicle batteries in New Mexico and requires end-of-life batteries to be managed through a hierarchy prioritizing reuse, repair, remanufacturing, or repurposing before recycling. Battery providers (including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers) are responsible for end-of-life management unless a secondary handler or user modifies the battery, in which case that entity becomes responsible. The bill defines key terms like "secondary handler" (entities that sort or prepare batteries for reuse) and "specialized battery recycler" (facilities authorized to extract materials), and restricts commercial haulers and solid waste facilities from accepting batteries for disposal. This directly affects battery sellers, recyclers, and waste management facilities by mandating specific handling procedures for electric vehicle batteries.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → TP substitute · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill establishes a new framework for managing electric vehicle batteries at the end of their useful life, prohibiting landfill disposal and creating a system of responsible entities. It defines roles for battery providers, secondary handlers, and recyclers, requiring annual reporting and establishing penalties for violations. The bill also amends existing hazardous waste laws to include specific definitions for electric vehicle batteries.

Scope change

The bill expands state environmental regulations to specifically address electric vehicle battery lifecycle management, creating new obligations for manufacturers, dealers, and recyclers that did not previously exist under New Mexico's hazardous waste laws.

DEFINITION

New definitions for key terms including 'battery provider', 'secondary handler', 'secondary user', 'specialized battery recycler', and 'propulsion battery' to clarify roles and responsibilities.

Amends the Hazardous Waste Act definitions to include specific provisions for electric vehicle batteries, including who qualifies as a 'generator' of hazardous waste in this context.

REQUIREMENT

Prohibition on landfilling electric vehicle batteries, requiring all such batteries to be managed through reuse, repair, remanufacturing, or recycling following a battery management hierarchy.

Mandatory annual reporting requirements for secondary handlers, secondary users, battery providers, and specialized battery recyclers starting January 1, 2028, detailing volumes of batteries processed and recovery rates.

Creates a 'responsible entity' system where battery providers are primarily responsible for spent batteries, with responsibility transferring to the last party that modified the battery.

Requires specialized battery recyclers to obtain permits under the Hazardous Waste Act when performing treatment of propulsion batteries.

ENFORCEMENT

Establishes penalties for violations including penalties under the Hazardous Waste Act for improper disposal, landfilling, or failure to manage batteries responsibly.

TIMELINE

Sets January 1, 2027 as the effective date for the new battery management requirements, with annual reporting beginning January 1, 2028.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Transportation, Public Works & Capital Improvements Committee & House Judiciary Committee

lower

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors