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Committee hears bill to curb single-use plastics; restaurants and retailers would provide items only on request or as paper
Summary
The Senate Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment held a public hearing on Senate Bill 551 on Oct. 12, 2025, which would prohibit retailers and restaurants from automatically providing single-use plastic checkout bags, plastic utensils and small hotel toiletry containers except when requested and require checkout bags to be paper or customer-provided.
The Senate Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment held a public hearing on Senate Bill 551 on Oct. 12, 2025, which would prohibit retailers and restaurants from automatically providing single-use plastic checkout bags, single-use plastic utensils and condiment packaging unless requested, and would prohibit lodging establishments from supplying small plastic personal-care containers unless requested.
State Senator Janine Salmon, who introduced the bill, said the measure is intended to reduce plastic waste and the spread of microplastics. "We must do it," Salmon said in testimony, arguing the bill builds on the 2019 statewide plastic bag law by removing thicker single-use plastic bags from circulation and encouraging paper or customer-provided bags.
Supporters at the hearing included elected officials…
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