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Senate committee hears mixed testimony on bill to ban single‑use plastic carryout bags and raise paper fee
Summary
Senate Bill 59‑65 would prohibit single‑use and reusable film plastic carryout bags, raise the paper‑bag fee from 8¢ to 20¢, exempt SNAP/WIC/EBT customers and add penalties for manufacturers; environmental groups urged passage while retailers, grocers and manufacturers warned of costs, enforcement and supply impacts.
The Senate Environment Committee on Friday heard more than two hours of testimony on Senate Bill 59‑65, which would ban single‑use film plastic and reusable film carryout bags, allow paper bags and raise the paper bag pass‑through charge from 8¢ to 20¢.
Alicia Kinney Clawson, staff to the committee, told lawmakers the bill would prohibit specified plastic carryout bags, increase the paper fee to 20¢, exempt customers using WIC, SNAP and other cash and food assistance benefits from the fee, and add penalties for manufacturers or distributors who violate the statute. The staff fiscal note in the record estimated $9,900,000 in sales tax revenue and identified operating costs to the Department of Revenue and Department of Ecology.
Supporters framed the measure as an environmental and…
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