Bill > SB324

This bill establishes prohibitions on selling, offering for sale, or distributing water in disposable plastic bottles with a capacity of 4 liters or less in communities that border the Lake Tahoe Watershed. The legislation creates a graduated enforcement mechanism where local boards of health or health departments will progressively penalize violations: the first violation within a year results in a warning, the second violation incurs a fine up to $100, the third violation carries a fine up to $200, and any fourth or subsequent violations within a year can result in a fine up to $500. The bill defines key terms such as "disposable plastic bottle" as a single-use plastic item for bottling or transporting water, and "plastic" as a synthetic material that can be molded into rigid or flexible forms. The goal appears to be reducing plastic waste and protecting the environmental integrity of the Lake Tahoe region by discouraging the sale of small plastic water bottles in communities near this sensitive watershed. The provisions will take effect on January 1, 2026, giving businesses time to prepare for the new regulations.