Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to change current Minnesota law by allowing local governments to ban different types of merchant bags if they choose to. This offers more local control over environmental and commercial regulations concerning the use of paper, plastic, and reusable bags.

Main Provisions

• Repeal of Existing Law: The bill proposes the repeal of Minnesota Statutes section 471.9998, which currently prohibits local governments from banning the use of paper, plastic, or reusable bags.
• Local Authority: By repealing this statute, the bill would allow cities and towns in Minnesota to decide whether they want to implement bans on certain types of merchant bags, giving them the flexibility to address local environmental concerns.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Elimination of Prohibition: Current law prevents any political subdivision from banning the use of various types of merchant bags. The repeal of this statute would enable local governments to tailor bag use policies to better fit their individual community needs, potentially leading to bans on plastic bags to reduce environmental waste.

Relevant Terms

merchant bags, paper bags, plastic bags, reusable bags, local government control, environmental regulation, bag ban repeal, legislative repeal, local autonomy, environmental protection, commercial bag regulations.