Connecticut 2025 Regular Session Status: In Committee

HB 7271 — AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEMPTION RATES IN THE STATE AND REDUCING A FEE ON INFUSED BEVERAGE CONTAINERS.

Last action — FILE NO. 892

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

149 added · 10 removed

149 line(s) added, 10 removed.

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No.
House of Representatives General Assembly File No.
7271 January Session, 2025 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEMPTION RATES IN THE STATE AND REDUCING A FEE ON INFUSED BEVERAGE CONTAINERS.
892 January Session, 2025 Substitute House Bill No.
7271 House of Representatives, May 12, 2025 The Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding reported through REP.
HORN of the 64th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEMPTION RATES IN THE STATE AND REDUCING A FEE ON INFUSED BEVERAGE CONTAINERS.
Such study shall include, but need not be limited to, an examination of (1) the actual redemption rates of beverage containers currently occurring across the state, with as much geographical detail as is available and determinable, (2) whether and how much current redemption rates are a result of beverage containers soldout ofstate, (3)whethertheincrease oftherefundvalue ofbeverage containers to ten cents has increased the redemption rate in or out of the state, (4) whether such increase in the refund value has had an effect on the rate of sweetened beverage consumption in the state and any resulting health costs or savings, and (5) if redemption rates are determined to exceed the number of beverage containers sold in the state, the cost of such excess relative to the amounts deposit initiators are allowed to retain.
Such study shall include, but need not be limited to, an examination of (1) the actual redemption rates of beverage containers currently occurring across the state, with as much geographical detail as is available and determinable, (2) whether and how much current redemption rates are a result of beverage containers soldout ofstate, (3)whethertheincrease oftherefundvalue ofbeverage containers to ten cents has increased the redemption rate in or out of the state, (4) whether such increase in the refund value has had an effect on the rate of sweetened beverage consumption in the state and any resulting health costs or savings, and (5) if redemption rates are sHB7271 / File No.
(b) The working group shall consist of (1) the Commissioners of Energy and Environmental Protection and Revenue Services, or their designees, (2) the chairpersons, vice chairpersons and ranking members LCO 1 of 3 Substitute Bill No.
892 1 sHB7271 File No.
7271 of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment and finance, revenue and bonding, (3) industry and municipal representatives of deposit initiators, redemption centers, waste management facilities and public health agencies, and (4) any other individuals the chairpersons deem desirable or necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
892 determined to exceed the number of beverage containers sold in the state, the cost of such excess relative to the amounts deposit initiators are allowed to retain.
(b) The working group shall consist of (1) the Commissioners of Energy and Environmental Protection and Revenue Services, or their designees, (2) the chairpersons, vice chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment and finance, revenue and bonding, (3) industry and municipal representatives of deposit initiators, redemption centers, waste management facilities and public health agencies, and (4) any other individuals the chairpersons deem desirable or necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
(1) "Container" (A) means an object that is offered, intended for sale or sold to a consumer and directly contains an infused beverage or legacyinfused beverage,and(B)doesnotincludeanobjectorpackaging that indirectly contains, or contains in bulk for transportation purposes, an infused beverage or legacy infused beverage;
(1) "Container" (A) means an object that is offered, intended for sale or sold to a consumer and directly contains an infused beverage or legacyinfused beverage,and(B)doesnotincludeanobjectorpackaging sHB7271 / File No.
892 2 sHB7271 File No.
892 that indirectly contains, or contains in bulk for transportation purposes, an infused beverage or legacy infused beverage;
(b) A fee of [one dollar] five cents shall be assessed by a dispensary LCO 2 of 3 Substitute Bill No.
(b) A fee of [one dollar] five cents shall be assessed by a dispensary facility, hybrid retailer or retailer on each infused beverage container and legacy infused beverage container sold by such cannabis establishment.
7271 facility, hybrid retailer or retailer on each infused beverage container and legacy infused beverage container sold by such cannabis establishment.
-LCO LCO 3 of 3
-LCO sHB7271 / File No.
892 3 sHB7271 File No.
892 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 26 $ FY 27 $ Consumer Protection, Dept.
Consumer 250,000 250,000 Protection Enforcement Account - Revenue Loss Note:
GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill reduces the fee for a THC infused beverage from one dollar to five cents for certain cannabis related facilities resulting in an annual revenue loss to the consumer protection enforcement account of 1 approximately $250,000.
The bill also establishes a working group to study whether adjustments should be made to the amounts deposit initiators may retain in special accounts resulting in no fiscal impact because the working group has the expertise to meet the requirements of the bill.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into thefuture subject to thenumber ofTHC infusedbeverages sold.
1This account funds positions dedicated to the enforcement of DCP licensing laws and regulations.
sHB7271 / File No.
892 4 sHB7271 File No.
892 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 7271 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEMPTION RATES IN THE STATE AND REDUCING A FEE ON INFUSED BEVERAGE CONTAINERS.
SUMMARY This bill reduces, from $1 to five cents, the fee on infused beverage and legacy infused beverage containers sold by certain cannabis related dispensary facilities, hybrid retailers, and retailers.
By law, these establishments must remit the fee to the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) on each container sold during the prior six months.
The funds are deposited into the consumer protection enforcement accountandusedtoprotectpublichealthandsafety,educateconsumers and licensees, and ensure compliance with cannabis and liquor control laws.
Separately, the bill creates a working group to study if the amounts that deposit initiators must keep in special accounts for deposits under the state’s beverage container redemption law (“bottle bill”) should be adjusted.
By January 1, 2026, the working group must submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the legislature.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Upon passage, except the fee reduction is effective October 1, 2025, and applicable to sales occurring on or after that date.
WORKING GROUP Study Contents The bill specifically requires the working group’s study to include an examination of:
1.
the actual redemption rates of beverage containers currently sHB7271 / File No.
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892 5 sHB7271 File No.
892 occurring across the state, to the greatest geographical detail available and determinable;
2.
whether andhowmuch the redemptionratesare due to beverage containers sold out of state;
3.
whether the refund value increase to 10 cents increased the redemption rate in or out of the state;
4.
whether therefundvalue increase to 10centshasaffected therate of sweetened beverage consumption in Connecticut and any resulting health costs or savings;
and 5.
if redemption rates are found to exceed the number of beverage containers sold in the state, the cost of the excess relative to the amounts deposit initiators are allowed to keep.
Under the bottle bill, the first distributor to collect the deposits on beverage containers sold in the state (i.e.
“deposit initiators”) must put the deposit amount (refund value) it receives for each beverage container it sells into a special interest-bearing bank account.
It must use the funds in the account to reimburse dealers and redemption centers for the deposits they refund to consumers for redeemed containers.
If a deposit initiator does not have enough money in the account in any quartertopaytheserefunds,it must subtractthedeficiencyfromitsnext quarterly remittance of unclaimed bottle deposits to the revenue services department until the deficiency is completely subtracted (CGS §§ 22a-243 & 22a-245a).
Participants Under thebill, the working group includes the following individuals:
1.
commissioners of energy and environmental protection and revenue services, or their designees;
2.
Environment and Finance, Revenue and Bonding committee chairs, vice chairs, and ranking members;
sHB7271 / File No.
892 6 sHB7271 File No.
892 3.
industry and municipal representatives of deposit initiators, redemption centers, waste management facilities, and public health agencies;
and 4.
any other individuals the chairs deem desirable or necessary.
Administration and First Meeting The Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee’s administrative staff serves as the working group’s administrative staff.
The bill requires the chairs of the two committees to jointly schedule theworkinggroup’sfirstmeetingandthatitbeheldwithin60days after the bill’s passage.
The working group ends on the date it submits its report or January 1, 2026, whichever is later.
BACKGROUND Definitions By law, an “infused beverage” is a nonalcoholic beverage that (1) is intended for human consumption and (2) contains, or is advertised, labeled, or offered for sale as containing, a total THC content of three milligrams or less per container, which must be at least 12 fluid ounces (CGS §§ 21a-420 & 21a-425).
A “legacy infused beverage” is a nonalcoholic beverage that (1) is intended for human consumption and (2) contains or is advertised, labeled, or offered for sale as containing THC.
It must also comply with the Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis Act and corresponding DCP policies, procedures, and regulations (CGS § 21a-425).
Related Bill SB 1115 (File 666), favorably reported by the Environment;
Judiciary;
and Finance, Revenue and Bonding committees, makes several changes to the bottle bill, including requiring the revenue services commissioner to compensate deposit initiators for deficiencies from paying out more indepositrefundsthantheycollectedaspartofbeveragesalesinagiven quarter.
sHB7271 / File No.
892 7 sHB7271 File No.
892 COMMITTEE ACTION Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee Joint Favorable Yea 34 Nay 17 (04/24/2025) sHB7271 / File No.
892 8
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 892

  2. HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 587

  3. FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 05/12/25

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0414

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Finance, Revenue and Bonding

Sponsorship breakdown

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0 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 187 not signed on

Sponsors (0)

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Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (187)

187 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the current status of HB 7271?
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
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