SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6030
As of January 13, 2026
Title: An act relating to repealing restrictions and fees on plastic carryout bags.
Brief Description: Repealing restrictions and fees on plastic carryout bags.
Sponsors: Senator Braun.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Environment, Energy & Technology: 1/14/26.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Repeals the requirement that retailers sell 2.25 mils plastic bags and allows the sale of single-use plastic bags.
  • Maintains the $0.08 fee for single-use plastic and paper bags and repeals the fee increase to $0.12.
  • Maintains the postconsumer recycled content requirements for paper and film plastic bags.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY
Staff: Alicia Kinne-Clawson (786-7407)
Background:

Plastic Bag Regulations. Beginning January 1, 2026, the pass-through charge for reusable carryout plastic film bags is $0.12.  A retail establishment is prohibited from reimbursing a customer any portion of the pass-through charge.

 

Beginning January 1, 2028, reusable plastic film bags must be at least four mils in thickness. Until December 31, 2027, retail establishments that offer for sale reusable plastic bags with a thickness of at least four mils must collect a $0.40 penalty in addition to the $0.12 pass-through charge. This $0.40 penalty must be deposited in the Waste Reduction, Recycling, and Litter Control Account, and, like the $0.12 pass-through charge, must be shown on receipts provided to customers.  

 

Retail establishments may not collect a pass-through charge from a person using a voucher or electronic benefits card issued under Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or the State Food Assistance Program. The pass-through charge is a taxable retail sale and must be shown as such on a receipt provided to customers. Retail establishments may deduct from business and occupation taxes the amounts collected from pass-through charges. This tax deduction is not subject to the tax preference performance statement or automatic expiration date.

 

Report on Carryout Bag Regulations. The Department of Commerce, in consultation with the Department of Ecology, was required to submit a report to the Legislature by December 31, 2024, addressing the effectiveness of the pass-through charge for carryout bags, the availability and pricing of various types of carryout bags, and the sufficiency of the pass-through charge relative to the cost of authorized bags to retail establishments and making recommendations for revisions to carryout bag requirements. 

 

A report authored by Washington State University was submitted to the Legislature in November of 2025. The report found that between 2021 and 2022, the number of plastic bags distributed decreased by an estimated 50 percent while the total plastic use by weight increased by an estimated 17 percent. The report contained two recommendations related to the plastic bag thickness requirement and the pass-through charge.
Summary of Bill:

Film plastic and paper carryout bags may be provided to customers at retail establishments if they meet the minimum recycled content standards. 

 

Requirements related to minimum thickness standards for reusable carryout bags made of film plastic are eliminated.

 

The pass-through charge for paper carryout bags is retained at $0.08 and for film plastic carryout bags is lowered from $0.12 to $0.08.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 9, 2025.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.