Oregon Senate Passes Landmark Bill Banning Plastic Bags at Retail Checkouts Statewide

Senate Bill 551, the bill banning all bags made of plastic film at checkout in restaurants, grocery stores, and other retail locations, passed the Oregon Senate with a vote of 22-8, taking a step closer to becoming law.

The Oregon Senate approved the sweeping ban on March 11, and the Oregon House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment approved Senate Bill 511, banning plastic bags and limiting single-use plastics statewide, earlier this month.

Before voting, two original HB provisions —requiring single-use plastic toiletries at places of lodging to be available only by request and adding plastic utensils and condiments to Oregon’s existing “straws upon request” laws —were removed.

Senate Bill 551, banning plastic film bags, now heads to Governor Kotek’s desk, and once signed, will become law.