Senator Laird Condemns Federal Decision Blocking California Propane Cylinder Law

Press Release
Senator Laird Condemns Federal Decision Blocking California Propane Cylinder Law
September 8, 2026
SACRAMENTO –
Senator John Laird today condemned a Trump administration decision blocking California’s effort to phase out disposable propane cylinders in favor of reusable and refillable alternatives.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced today that federal law prevents California from enforcing Senate Bill 1280, authored by Laird and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2024. The law was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2028.
Laird issued the following statement:
“This is a disastrous decision for our environment, and it will make an already difficult problem harder for California communities. Millions of single-use propane cylinders end up in our waste stream each year, where they can cause fires and explosions that put workers at risk and leave local governments and waste facilities with costly disposal challenges.
SB 1280 was a commonsense effort – strongly supported by those impacted – to reduce that burden by moving toward reusable and refillable cylinders. Instead, this decision leaves California taxpayers and local governments to continue paying the costs of managing these disposable cylinders.
I’m proud of the work we did to pass SB 1280, and I will continue working with our state partners to determine the appropriate next steps. California should be able to protect its communities and reduce unnecessary waste without having its efforts mocked or dismissed by Washington. This is a move that benefits special interests – not those of us that have to pay for the disposal of used canisters.”