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Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey Bill Repeals Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags and Polystyrene Foam Products
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste CommitteeSponsors: Auth, Robert and 10 others
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What This Bill Would Do
New Jersey Assembly Bill 546 repeals existing laws that prohibit stores and food service businesses from providing or selling single-use plastic carryout bags, paper carryout bags, polystyrene foam products, and unrequested plastic straws. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
The measure removes state-level restrictions and penalties on businesses regarding the distribution of specific single-use packaging and utensils, altering operational rules for retail stores and food service establishments across the state.
- New Jersey previously enacted broad restrictions on single-use carryout bags and polystyrene foam products under P.L.2020, c.117. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Retail stores and grocery stores
Food service businesses
Businesses can provide food in polystyrene foam products and distribute plastic straws without customer requests.
Food banks and food pantries
Organizations are permitted to provide single-use plastic carryout bags to clients.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific single-use products are affected by this bill?
Are restaurants and stores allowed to give out plastic straws automatically under this bill?
Does the bill change how the Clean Communities Program Fund is used?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 6 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Reversal of Single-Use Product Ban
The bill systematically rolls back restrictions established in 2020 regarding plastic bags, paper bags, polystyrene containers, and plastic straws.
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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