Bill > HB2802

This bill introduces comprehensive regulations for checkout bags in retail establishments across Arizona, primarily focusing on reducing single-use plastic bags. Under the new law, retail establishments are prohibited from providing single-use checkout bags to customers and must charge at least $0.05 for alternative bag types, which include reusable fabric, recycled paper, and reusable plastic bags. The bill provides specific exceptions, such as allowing free bag promotions for up to twelve days per calendar year and permitting free bags for customers using Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) vouchers or Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. Retail establishments are required to report to state authorities the total fees collected and the number of bags sold or distributed. The law empowers local governments to impose additional bag fees or penalties beyond the state's $250 civil penalty for violations. The bill also includes detailed definitions for different bag types, specifying characteristics like material composition and thickness, and exempts certain specialized bags like those used for prescriptions, bulk items, or frozen foods. The Department of Environmental Quality is mandated to submit a comprehensive report by December 31, 2032, analyzing the act's economic and environmental impacts, with the entire regulation becoming effective on December 31, 2028.