Yesterday the Florida State Senate voted 24 to 13 for CS/HB 1609 to proceed.

The day before yesterday they took the text of the old bills and inserted it into CS/HB 1609, which has the misleading title “Waste Management”.

Several amendments this morning may or may not have removed the offending verbiage.

Please contact your Florida state Representative and ask them to stop this pre-emption:
https://wwals.net/about/elected-officials/florida-house/

CS/HB 1609

Plastic is one of the biggest pollution threats to our waterways. Plastic debris can choke and entangle wildlife as well as leach harmful chemicals into our water. Despite the overwhelming volume of plastic pollution in natural areas, the state of Florida has preempted local governments from regulating many types of single-use plastics for years. Now, the legislature wants to take it even further.

This bill, under whatever number, would remove local governments’ authority to regulate single-use or reusable cups, bottles, bags, or other packaging designed for transporting, consuming, or protecting merchandise, food, or beverages from a retail or food establishment. These bills not only prevent local governments from adopting regulations, they also prevent any state agency from regulating food packaging—including in our State Parks.

With your help we were able to stop this bad bill last year. We need your help to stop it again.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

Short Link: