This bill amends existing Iowa law to clarify the regulation of single-use plastic bags by counties and cities. It introduces a new definition for "single-use plastic bag," specifying that it is a plastic bag provided by a retailer at the point of sale that is not reusable. The bill also outlines exceptions for certain types of bags, such as those used for prescription medications, protecting purchased items, or containing unwrapped food items. Additionally, the bill excludes single-use plastic bags from the definition of "container," which means they are not classified as consumer merchandise under current law.

Furthermore, the bill allows counties and cities to adopt or enforce ordinances that set fees for providing single-use plastic bags, despite existing prohibitions against local regulations that differ from state law regarding consumer merchandise. This change empowers local governments to implement their own policies concerning the use of single-use plastic bags, thereby promoting environmental considerations at the local level.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 331.301, 364.3