Update on Plastic Bag Legislation in Ohio!

May 29, 2019

To date, Ohio has four ordinances on the books addressing plastic pollution. The voice of the people has been heard loud and clear by local government and decision makers. Meanwhile, state legislators are ignoring their voices and working alongside with corporate lobbyists to remove the authority of local government. House Bill 242 is a carbon copy of preemption bills introduced by the oil, gas, and plastic industry. State legislators in Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Arizona, and Florida have already preempted plastic regulation on containers and plastic bags.

What can you do? Oppose statewide legislation that takes away the right of municipalities to improve their environment. Support local ordinances reducing waste in your community. Maintain a strong voice at the statewide level to challenge corporate lobbyist and big industry which threatens to silence local voices and action on the topic of plastic pollution. Commit to speaking out about preemption as a manipulation of the democratic process and an attempt to take power away from everyday people and communities trying to protect their local environment.

Want to be involved more? Contact Elissa Yoder Mann at elissa.yoder@sierraclub.org

Legislative Update on HB 242

House Bill 242: To amend sections 504.04, 715.013, 3736.01, and 3767.32 and to enact sections 301.30 and 3736.021 of the Revised Code to authorize the use of an auxiliary container for any purpose, to prohibit the imposition of a tax or fee on those containers, and to apply existing anti-littering law to those containers. 

Link: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-status?id=GA133-HB-242

 
Bill Sponsors: Rep. George F. Lang, District 52 and Rep. Don Jones, District 95
Committee: House State and Local Government Committee
 
Bill History:
May 13, 2019 Introduced
May 21, 2019 Assigned to Committee
May 29, 2019 First Hearing
 
News Articles:
 
Note: this is the same bill that we stopped in GA 2018 under HB 625 and SB 210. 
 
Review of Municipal Ordinances/Bans in Ohio
 
On Tuesday, May 27th, two plastic bag bans passed in Ohio!
 
Cuyahoga County:
Bexley:
 
2018 Legislation in Ohio
Orange Village:
Ashtabula:
 
Resources: