SF4610

Purpose

This bill aims to reduce plastic waste in the hotel industry by prohibiting hotels from providing single-use plastic bottles that contain shampoo or conditioner to guests, and by establishing civil penalties for violations. It also sets up enforcement by the state Attorney General.

Main Provisions

• Definitions:
  • single-use plastic bottle: a plastic bottle or container intended to be used once by a consumer before disposal or recycling.
  • hotel: the term as defined in another Minnesota statute (section 157.15 subdivision 7).
• Prohibition:
  • A hotel may not sell, offer for sale, or provide to hotel guests a single-use plastic bottle containing shampoo or conditioner.
• Enforcement and penalties:
  • If a hotel violates the prohibition, the owner faces a civil penalty of $50 for each single-use plastic bottle containing shampoo or conditioner that is sold, offered for sale, or provided to guests.
  • The total penalties may not exceed $10,000.
  • The violation may be enjoined (court-ordered to stop).
  • The Attorney General may enforce this section under the state’s enforcement provisions (section 8.31).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new prohibition within Minnesota Statutes (chapter 325E) affecting hotels and hotel guest amenities.
• Establishes a per-item civil penalty regime with a monetary cap and a mechanism for court-ordered injunctions.
• Authorizes enforcement by the Attorney General, expanding state-level oversight of hotel practices regarding single-use plastic bottles containing shampoo or conditioner.

Practical Impact (in brief)

• Hotels would need to switch away from providing individual disposable shampoo/conditioner bottles to guests and instead offer alternative packaging or amenities (e.g., bulk dispensers or other non-single-use options).
• Hotels could face civil penalties for each prohibited bottle, up to $10,000, and must comply to avoid enforcement actions.

Relevant Terms single-use plastic bottle shampoo conditioner hotel hotel customers civil penalty enjoined enforcement Attorney General Minnesota Statutes chapter 325E section 8.31 sold provided offer for sale