Plastic Bags Going Away Statewide on New Year's Day

New 2026 laws include stricter ban on plastic bags in California

A wave of new state laws taking effect in 2026 covers everything from wages and workplace protections to gender-neutral bathrooms in public schools, firing squads, and taxes. Forty-three states will ring in the new year with notable tax changes, according to the Tax Foundation. Eight states will lower their individual income tax rates, while Ohio will transition to a single-rate income tax.  In this Sept. 20, 2016, file photo, women walk with pl…

Plastic Bags Going Away Statewide on New Year's Day

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) - Shopping bags are going 100% paper for 10 cents apiece statewide in California on New Years’ Day. Some consumers say they aren’t very thrilled about it. The state's overall goal of getting rid of plastic shopping bags for groceries has taken almost 20 years due to a few legal loopholes. “I know we aren't going to order them, which is like the only consequence,” says Jacob Luke, one of the managers at Spencer’s Fresh …

California says adiós to plastic bags! Why a new 2026 law bans them at grocery stores

This article was originally published by LAist on Dec. 29, 2025. No Katy Perry, in 2026, we won’t be feeling like a plastic bag drifting through the wind. That’s because California is finally closing a major loophole in its plastic bag ban. Starting on Jan. 1, stores will be required to swap out those thick, reusable plastic bags with recycled paper bags. How the law works Under Senate Bill 1053, the ban applies to most grocery, drug and conveni…

California Bans Plastic Bags at Grocery Stores. Here’s What to Know About the New Law

“Paper or plastic?” You won’t be hearing that common question at California grocery stores any more starting Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. That’s when a new statewide ban on plastic bags […]