It hasn’t even gone onto effect yet, but legislation already introduced to repeal California’s ban on the use of plastic grocery bags. Assemblyman Matthew Harper, Huntington Beach introduced the bill along with a separate measure to repeal the law forcing retailers to charge a 10 cent fee per bag on paper grocery bags.

Click here to listen to Assemblyman Matthew Harper

Assemblyman Harper says the ban will force California consumers to pay as much as $613 million more per year.
Harper says Sacramento should not be telling consumers and business owners what kind of bags they must use.

Click here to listen to Assemblyman Matthew Harper

Last year, Governor Brown signed into law legislation banning plastic bags and mandating the paper bag charge, however, a referendum campaign has put the law on hold. If enough signatures are collected, California voters will decide the fate of the ban and the paper bag fee in the 2016 election.

Despite the ongoing referendum, Harper said the California Constitution allows the Legislature to amend or repeal referendum statutes.

Assemblyman Harper introduced two bills related to the plastic bag ban. The first, AB 190 would repeal only the 10 cent per bag fee on paper grocery bags, to alleviate the burden on working class consumers. The second, AB 191 would repeal the plastic bag ban in its entirety.

Local ordinances in Grass Valley, Nevada City, and Truckee supersede the state ban and will not be effected by the state ban.