DISCLAIMER:  This is NOT intended to be a complete list of bag laws and will not be updated. For a comprehensive list of bag laws in the U.S., we find that Californians Against Waste's List National List is generally well-maintained.  

Local Ordinances

Successful Local Ordinances

Texas State Law

Proposed State Bills (2011 legislative session)

There were two bills pending in the Texas legislature that would preempt all local plastic bag ordinances in the name of plastic bag recycling.  The bill would require in-store plastic bag recycling bins and mandate the availability of reasonably priced reusable bags at supermarkets.  This type of law sounds innocuous, but laws like these are generally sponsored by the plastics industry with the main intention of suspending all local efforts to reduce plastic bag use.  Luckily, many local environmental organizations are aware of the bills' intentions and are urging lawmakers to remove the local preemption language.