After falling three votes short of passage earlier this week, the single-use plastic bag bill known as SB 270 has passed after reconsideration this afternoon. Led by Senators Padilla, de León & Lara (as well as environmental stakeholders and local government advocates), the California State Assembly Floor voted 44-29.
For several months, environmental vs. economical problems have been a forefront to the issue. This week especially, debate on the integrity of the bill was put into question when a letter was received from an advocacy group that urged legislators to vote no. It turns out the letter was distributed by an industry lobbyist and the advocacy group is fictitious.
"In the end, it was the reports of overwhelming success of this policy at the local level that overcame the political attacks and misinformation from out-of-state plastic bag makers," said Mark Murray, Executive Director of the bill's sponsor, Californians Against Waste.
The passing of Senate Bill 270 in today's Assembly Floor Session has brought us "one step closer to making California the first state in the nation to ban the flimsy, single-use plastic bags that are always polluting our communities and waterways," Senator de León states. "I am confident SB 270 will pass the final vote on the Senate floor."
The bill advances to the State Senate where it has until August 31 to pass on concurrence. Take a minute and write to your Senator and urge their AYE vote!
Find out who your representative is and please thank those who voted YES on this historic bill!
Find out who voted AYE and thank them!