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Senate committee approves bill to bar city bans on bags, straws after clash over local control
Summary
The City, County & Local Affairs Committee approved Senate Bill 616, which would preempt municipal bans or taxes on ‘auxiliary containers’ including plastic bags, straws and foam cups. Local officials warned the bill is broad and could hinder litter control and entertainment‑district rules; business groups said uniformity protects small retailers.
The Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee on Friday approved Senate Bill 616, a measure that would prevent cities and counties from banning, taxing or otherwise regulating so‑called auxiliary containers — items such as plastic bags, straws, foam cups and similar packaging — in favor of statewide rules.
Representative David Ray (R‑District 40), who presented the bill, framed it as a uniformity measure for commerce. He said differing local rules make life harder for businesses that buy packaging in bulk and can translate into consumer costs. "A poor family ends up paying over a hundred dollars a year just in bag taxes to buy their groceries," Ray said, urging the committee to consider the bill’s impact on low‑income households.
John Wilkerson, general counsel for the…
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