Alaska committee hears split testimony on HB25 polystyrene ban; sponsor says bill fixed drafting errors

The Senate State Affairs Committee heard competing testimony May 5 on House Bill 25, a proposal to ban polystyrene disposable food service ware in Alaska.

Representative Andy Josephson, sponsor of HB25, opened the public hearing and said the bill had been revised after earlier drafting raised unintended consequences. "That is no longer in the bill," he told the committee, referring to a prior drafting that could have banned many alternatives.

Industry witnesses urged caution. Ivy Britton, Western Region Director for State Government Affairs at the Plastics Industry Association, testified in respectful opposition, saying a material ban could "impose unnecessary financial burdens on restaurants, particularly small and family‑owned establishments," and that the bill’s fiscal note may not capture downstream procurement costs for state agencies.

Lindsay Stoball of the American Chemistry Council also urged a no vote, citing analyses that found alternatives can be substantially more expensive and warning of operational challenges and unclear exemptions.

Supporters told a different story. Deanni Chapman, state director of Alaska Environment, said microplastic testing of 39 Southcentral Alaska water sources found microplastics in every sample and argued that polystyrene is among the most persistent and harmful products. "Passing the bill will help get rid of some of the worst plastics and keep both people and our wildlife healthier," Chapman said.

Local business testimony offered mixed but often supportive views. Britney Robbins, a Wrangell Island business owner, said most local restaurants had already switched away from polystyrene and that her quick pricing check found average cost increases of a few cents per item.

Representative Josephson responded to industry witnesses by disputing some cost claims and noting that not all state agencies (for example, the Department of Corrections) had provided fiscal notes. He also reiterated that polystyrene is difficult to recycle.

Senator Grama Jackson moved a committee substitute (work draft LS0256N) be reported from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes; the motion carried with no objections. The committee took no final floor vote on the policy itself during this meeting.

Next steps: the committee reported the work draft with fiscal notes and will continue deliberations as the bill moves through the legislative process.