Bad Bag Bill in Texas DEFEATED!

Rep. Drew Springer (Muenster) filed HB 2416 “The Shopping Bag Freedom Act” to give retailers and consumers the freedom to give and receive plastic and paper bags across the state and stop the overreach of big government.”, according to a press release. In reality, it's an effort by big government (the State of Texas) to limit the reach of small government (local municipalities). The bill appears on one hand to be a retaliation to the checkout bag ban recently enacted in Austin, the State Capitol. But, legislation has been introduced in previous years in Texas to try and limit 'home rule', which allows local cities and municipalities to adopt plastic bag bans and fee-based programs. In addition, this new bill would roll back the existing bag ordinances in Austin, Brownsville, Fort Stockton, Freer, Laguna Vista, South Padre Island and Sunset Valley. JUNE UPDATE: THANK YOU for taking action to let your legislators know about this bad bag bill. It died in committee but may be back in coming years.