What's happening
This bill allows New York localities to impose taxes on carryout bags provided by retail stores.
Why it matters
Empowers local governments to address plastic waste. By letting counties and smaller cities tax carryout bags, the bill gives communities a direct tool to reduce single-use bag consumption and related environmental harm.
Creates potential for policy diversity. Each locality can define what counts as a "carryout bag" and which stores are "covered," allowing tailored approaches based on local needs, retail patterns, or existing waste management challenges.
May influence consumer and business behavior. Taxes on carryout bags often encourage shoppers to bring reusable bags and prompt retailers to reconsider their bagging policies, potentially reducing plastic and paper waste.
Could generate local revenue. The tax could provide new funding streams for municipalities, which could be used for environmental programs, waste management, or other community services depending on local priorities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Towns Tax Shopping Bags
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 25
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Referred to ways and means
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Cities Tax Carryout Bags
In Senate Committee · Investigations And Government Operations · Sponsor Liz Krueger
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5037
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 6, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ROZIC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to authorizing localities to adopt local laws, ordinances or resolutions imposing a tax on carryout bags
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1201 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subdivision (n) to read as follows:
(n) (i) Taxes on the provision of carryout bags by covered stores.
(ii) Local laws imposing taxes authorized by this subdivision shall provide definitions for "carryout bag" and "covered store" as well as specified exemptions therein in addition to other provisions necessary to implement taxes authorized by this subdivision.
§ 2. Subdivision (a) of section 1202 of the tax law, as added by chapter 93 of the laws of 1965, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any county in this state, except a county wholly within a city, is hereby authorized and empowered, subject to the limitations and exemptions in part II of this article, to adopt and amend local laws, ordinances or resolutions imposing in any such county any of the types of taxes authorized under subdivisions (c), (d) [and], (e) and (n) of section twelve hundred one of this subpart, at the rates provided for therein, such taxes to be administered and collected in the manner provided for in subpart A of part III of this article.
§ 3. Subdivision a of section 1203 of the tax law, as amended by chapter 629 of the laws of 1973, is amended to read as follows:
a. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any city in this state with a population of less than one million is hereby authorized and empowered, subject to the limitations and exemptions in part II of this article, to adopt and amend local laws, ordinances or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06689-01-9
A. 5037 2
resolutions imposing in such city any of the taxes authorized under subdivisions (c), (d) [and], (e) and (n) of section twelve hundred one of this subpart, at the rates provided for therein, such taxes to be administered and collected in the manner provided for in subpart A of part III of this article.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.