Yes, you read that right.
Nationally, plastic bags have become a contentious issue, with Republicans (for the most part) getting to work to protect the single use plastic bag. Governor Mike Pence (now President Elect) signed a bill in Indiana prohibiting bans on plastic bags in March.
Wisconsin and Idaho also in 2016 banned local government from banning plastic bags. They weren’t the first. Florida has had a ban on local bans since 2008, and in 2015 Arizona enacted one as well.
However, California voters earlier this year reinforced with their votes a 2014 law that kept a statewide ban on single use plastic bags in place.
Michigan has now followed suit with their own ban ban, signed by Lt. Governor Brian Calley on Wednesday. He was empowered to sign the law as Governor Rick Snyder was not in the state.
The bill, according to MLive, bans bans against plastic bags and disposable containers. It also means local municipalities cannot impose their own taxes or fees on them. The city of Ann Arbor had planned to put a 10 cent charge on plastic or paper bags starting in 2017.
In Michigan, there was a coalition of lobbyists for the bill, including the Michigan Restaurant Association (MRA), who believed a patchwork of regulations would hurt chain restaurants and retailers.
“With many of our members owning and operating locations across the state, preventing a patchwork approach of additional regulations is imperative to avoid added complexities as it related to day-to-day business operations,” said Robert O’Meara, Vice President of Government Affairs at the MRA in a statement.