State Officials Send Mixed Messages on Auxiliary Container Bill

This week, the Ohio Senate held its third hearing on Senate Bill 222 — an OMA-supported bill that would pre-empt local governments from enacting taxes or bans on auxiliary packaging such as bags and containers. A litany of opponents testified on Tuesday, including the mayor of Bexley, whose city recently enacted a law to ban plastic bags.

Speaker Larry Householder announced Tuesday that he would like to get his chamber’s version of the bill, House Bill 242, passed prior to year’s end. But a day later, Gov. Mike DeWine was quoted as saying he does not support the legislation, adding that its passage would be “a mistake.”

The Senate will continue its consideration of SB 222. More to come as this issue continues to play out. 12/5/2019