17 States and Wholesaler Group Sue to Block California's SB 54 EPR Law
On June 22, 2026, a coalition of 17 Republican-led states led by Nebraska, joined by the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California challenging California's Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54). The plaintiffs seek to block enforcement of the law, claiming it violates the Commerce Clause, the Import-Export Clause, the First Amendment, and federal due process protections by discriminating against out-of-state manufacturers and improperly delegating regulatory authority to a private entity. The defendants are CalRecycle Director Zoe Heller and the Circular Action Alliance, the producer responsibility organization selected to implement the statute. Critically, filing the lawsuit does not suspend SB 54 compliance obligations—producers must continue meeting registration, reporting, and implementation requirements unless a court orders otherwise.