AB-70
Energy & Environment

Solid waste: organic waste: diversion: biomethane.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires local jurisdictions to meet organic waste reduction targets and recover 20% of edible food by 2025.
  • Establishes progressive procurement targets for organic waste products starting at 30% by 2023.
  • Adds pipeline biomethane from organic waste as an eligible recovered product by January 1, 2027.
  • Extends rural jurisdiction exemptions for organic waste collection requirements until 2037.

Summary

Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry's organic waste legislation adds pipeline biomethane to California's recovered organic waste products while establishing a formal definition of pyrolysis in state law. The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery must amend regulations by January 2027 to include biomethane converted exclusively from diverted organic waste as an eligible product that local jurisdictions can procure to meet their organic waste recovery targets.

The bill defines pyrolysis as the thermal decomposition of material at elevated temperatures with minimal or no oxygen present. This definition fills a gap in current law, which references but does not define the term in provisions regarding biomass conversion and waste diversion requirements.

Local jurisdictions retain the ability to charge fees covering their compliance costs and may adopt five-year procurement targets starting in 2027 rather than annual ones. The legislation maintains existing penalty schedules requiring jurisdictions to meet 30% of procurement targets by 2023, 65% by 2024, and 100% by 2025. Rural jurisdictions remain exempt from organic waste collection and procurement mandates until 2037, after which they may apply for additional five-year exemptions.

The Department may adopt emergency regulations to implement these changes, with such rules remaining in effect through January 2024. The bill also authorizes state financing entities to inform solid waste facility operators about funding opportunities for methane capture improvements.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Environmental Quality Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Environmental Quality Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 70 Aguiar-Curry Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass as amended
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-2514
Solid waste: organic waste: diversion: biomethane: biosolids.
February 2024
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Latest Voting History

July 14, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7007PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires local jurisdictions to meet organic waste reduction targets and recover 20% of edible food by 2025.
  • Establishes progressive procurement targets for organic waste products starting at 30% by 2023.
  • Adds pipeline biomethane from organic waste as an eligible recovered product by January 1, 2027.
  • Extends rural jurisdiction exemptions for organic waste collection requirements until 2037.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry's organic waste legislation adds pipeline biomethane to California's recovered organic waste products while establishing a formal definition of pyrolysis in state law. The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery must amend regulations by January 2027 to include biomethane converted exclusively from diverted organic waste as an eligible product that local jurisdictions can procure to meet their organic waste recovery targets.

The bill defines pyrolysis as the thermal decomposition of material at elevated temperatures with minimal or no oxygen present. This definition fills a gap in current law, which references but does not define the term in provisions regarding biomass conversion and waste diversion requirements.

Local jurisdictions retain the ability to charge fees covering their compliance costs and may adopt five-year procurement targets starting in 2027 rather than annual ones. The legislation maintains existing penalty schedules requiring jurisdictions to meet 30% of procurement targets by 2023, 65% by 2024, and 100% by 2025. Rural jurisdictions remain exempt from organic waste collection and procurement mandates until 2037, after which they may apply for additional five-year exemptions.

The Department may adopt emergency regulations to implement these changes, with such rules remaining in effect through January 2024. The bill also authorizes state financing entities to inform solid waste facility operators about funding opportunities for methane capture improvements.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Environmental Quality Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Environmental Quality Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 70 Aguiar-Curry Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass as amended
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To print.

Latest Voting History

July 14, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7007PASS

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-2514
Solid waste: organic waste: diversion: biomethane: biosolids.
February 2024
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1