Plastic Bags Remain Legal

Sacramento, CA — Plastic shopping bags remain legal in California.

State lawmakers voted down a bill seeking a ban on plastic bags that are often given out at grocery stores. Opponents of the ban argued that the legislation went too far in trying to regulate personal choice.

An industry group had launched an aggressive campaign against the proposed ban saying that it would be a job killer. Some California cities have passed legislation banning plastic bags within their individual jurisdictions. The statewide ban fell seven votes shy of passing in the Senate on Tuesday.