HB 1257 Summary

• Establishes statewide standards for carryout bags in counties and municipalities that adopt ordinances, prohibiting plastic carryout bags at "affected stores" (retail establishments with $2 million+ annual sales or stores 10,000+ square feet selling limited groceries).

• Requires affected stores to provide reusable bags at no cost or for a fee, and may charge customers 10 cents per recyclable paper bag with no rebates allowed.

• Mandates at least 50 percent of collected bag fees be distributed to local school districts for educational purposes, with remaining fees retained by stores to offset compliance costs.

• Requires affected stores to submit quarterly reports detailing the number of recyclable paper bags provided, fees collected, and efforts to promote customer use of reusable bags within 30 days of each quarter ending.

• Authorizes local governments to impose penalties for violations and restricts local carryout bag regulations to standards outlined in this section only.