FL H0661

Municipalities with populations under 100,000 may establish pilot programs to regulate or ban disposable plastic bags, with ordinances enacted by December 31, 2015, taking effect January 1, 2016, and expiring June 30, 2018.

Pilot program ordinances cannot include new taxes or fees on the use or distribution of disposable plastic bags.

Participating municipalities must collect data on the regulation's or ban's impact and submit a report to their governing body at a public hearing by April 1, 2018, with a copy provided to the Department of Environmental Protection.

Municipalities may continue plastic bag regulation or bans after June 30, 2018, if they enact an ordinance after April 1, 2018, indicating their intent to continue the regulation.

The act takes effect July 1, 2015.