This bill amends existing Iowa law to allow counties and cities to impose fees for the provision of single-use plastic bags. It specifically defines a single-use plastic bag as a plastic bag provided by a retailer to a consumer at the point of sale that is not a reusable grocery bag, while also outlining exceptions for certain types of bags, such as those used for prescription medications or to protect food items. The bill clarifies that single-use plastic bags are excluded from the definition of "container," which includes various types of packaging, thereby categorizing them separately from consumer merchandise.

Additionally, the bill removes the previous prohibition that prevented local governments from adopting or enforcing ordinances that set standards or requirements regarding the sale or marketing of consumer merchandise that differ from state law. This change enables counties and cities to establish their own regulations concerning fees for single-use plastic bags, thereby granting them greater authority in addressing environmental concerns related to plastic waste.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 331.301, 364.3