SB 5397 has moved out of its policy committee and is scheduled for a hearing in the Ways & Means Committee. AWC and other local governments testified in favor of the bill and will do so again in the fiscal committee. The substitute version of the bill that passed out of committee is a significantly paired down version of the original; however, the legislative intent remains unchanged – to create a product stewardship program for plastic, funded by the plastic product producers. The program would be implemented by 2022.

Dates to remember

SB 5397 is scheduled to be heard Monday, February 18 at 3:30 pm in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. However, we have heard that this may be rescheduled to the end of the week or early next week, and another substitute version will be heard. Stay tuned.