California Statewide Single-Use Bag Bill Passes Senate Committee on Appropriations

AB 298, the current statewide single-use bag bill, passed the Senate Committee on Appropriations by a 5-2 vote on 7/2/12.  The momentum generated by the adoption of ordinances covering 50 local jurisdictions in California has definitely helped to make progressing with the statewide bill possible.  As introduced by Assemblymember Julia Brownley last year, AB 298 addressed how to define reusable bags.  However, the updated draft introduced on 6/18/12 added bag ban language as well as plastic bag recycling requirements. As you may recall, a previous statewide single-use bag bill (AB 1998) failed by only a small margin in 2010.  (Click here for details.)

Keep and eye on AB 298 and show your support.