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Lawmakers debate tougher carryout-bag rules and higher paper-bag fees

Washington State Legislature Environment & Energy Committee · January 15, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

HB 22-33 would ban reusable film plastic carryout bags, raise the paper bag pass-through charge to 20¢ and expand manufacturer/distributor requirements; environmental groups supported a ban while retailers and grocers warned about supply, cost and operational impacts.

The committee heard extensive testimony on HB 22-33, a proposal to strengthen Washington's carryout bag law by prohibiting reusable film plastic carryout bags, increasing the paper bag pass-through charge to 20¢, and extending certain requirements and penalties to manufacturers and distributors.

Staff summarized the bill's changes and timing (most provisions effective January 1, 2028), explained the delayed thickness standard under current law, and noted that pass-through charges are retained by retailers and are…

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