Tennessee is poised to become the latest state to ban local municipalities from regulating certain plastic bags and utensils.
House lawmakers on Monday advanced a proposal making it illegal for local governments to impose bag bans, restrictions on Styrofoam containers and other disposable products.
The bill is being debated in the statehouse as Memphis and Nashville have recently considered levying taxes against single-use plastic bags. The plastic bags industry has opposed such taxes, but state lawmakers have been more willing to pre-empt the local governments.
Minority Democratic members opposed the bill, arguing the General Assembly should not bypass local government decisions.
Eleven other states – including Idaho, Florida and Wisconsin – have already enacted similar so-called "bans on bans."