Relates to the paper carryout bag reduction fee

Latest action Mar 25, 2026

Implements a one year phase-in period for a local law, ordinance or resolution imposing a paper carryout bag reduction fee where forty percent of such fees are returned to such county or city for the purpose of purchasing and distributing reusable bags, with priority given to low- and fixed-income communities, and after the first year, such forty percent of fees shall be remitted to the person who collected the fees.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A5072, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Environmental Conservation Law.

Committee

Environmental Conservation · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Environmental Conservation · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To amend the environmental conservation law regarding the paper carryout bag reduction fee.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Environmental Conservation
Senate Environmental ConservationMar 25, 2026Result: passed
(11) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Environmental Conservation
Senate Environmental ConservationMay 20, 2025Result: passed
(11) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Vivian Cook

Democratic1

Vivian Cook

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Patricia Fahy says this is needed

Current legislation allocates two cents of each fee to reusable bag programs, leaving retailers to bear significant costs. This bill reduces the financial burden on retailers by allowing them to recoup a greater portion of the costs associated with higher-cost paper bags.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Mar 25, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NY Senate
May 28, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Feb 12, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NY Assembly

Show full history (1 earlier event)

Jan 10, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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