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S 630

Requires victims be notified of right to make a victim impact statement and allows them to personally appear at parole hearings and make such a statement

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dean Murray and 3 co-sponsors

The bill reduces disposable single‑use carryout bags by requiring a minimum 10-cent price on all carryout bags and ultimately banning most single‑use bags in favor of recycled pape

REFERRED TO CODES
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 630

Summary — S 630 (2025): An Act to reduce single-use plastics from the environment

Note on documents: the header/title supplied with the request (referring to victim impact statements) does not match the bill text provided. The bill text included with S 630 is a Massachusetts state bill introduced by Senator Jason M. Lewis titled “An Act to reduce single‑use plastics from the environment.” This summary describes the plastic‑bag reduction bill as contained in the provided text.

Purpose

To reduce disposable single‑use carryout bags entering the environment by restricting retail distribution of single‑use bags, setting minimum prices for alternative bags, and establishing regulatory and small‑business exemption processes.

Key provisions

  • New Chapter 21P (“Plastic Bag Reduction”) is added to the General Laws.
  • Definitions: establishes terms including “carryout bag,” “single‑use carryout bag,” “reusable grocery bag” (specific material/weight and stitched handles), “recycled paper bag” (100% recyclable, minimum postconsumer recycled content: 40% except for bags ≤8 lb which must be ≥20%), and “postconsumer recycled material.”
  • Phase‑in and prohibition:
    • For up to 180 days after enactment, retailers may make single‑use carryout bags available.
    • From 180 days to 18 months after enactment, any carryout bag made available (single‑use, recycled paper, or reusable) must be sold at no less than $0.10 each.
    • Eighteen months after enactment, retailers shall not provide carryout bags except recycled paper bags or reusable grocery bags; those offered must cost at least $0.10 each.
  • Fees: All moneys collected for bags are retained by the retail establishment.
  • Exemptions:
    • Several bag types are excluded from the “carryout bag” definition (e.g., prescription medication bags, bags to protect unwrapped food items, clothing on a hanger, frozen food protection, small‑item protection).
    • Subsections (a)–(d) do not apply to bags provided at no/reduced cost by nonprofit organizations for prepared foods/groceries or where a specific bag type is required by federal/state law.
    • The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must establish a small business exemption process. Eligibility requires a self‑audit showing: ≤3 locations under same ownership; each location <4,000 sq ft; ≤15 employees at each location; and either not a food establishment or distributed <15,000 carryout/checkout bags in the prior calendar year.
  • Regulatory authority: DEP to promulgate enforcement regulations and administer the small business exemption.

Who is affected

  • Retail establishments statewide: grocery stores, restaurants (including take‑out), convenience stores, pharmacies, coffee shops, food trucks, farmers markets, institutional cafeterias (including K–12), web‑based/catalog retailers and delivery services acting as retailers.
  • Consumers: required to pay for recycled paper or reusable bags (≥$0.10) after transition periods; encouraged to bring reusable bags.
  • Small retailers may qualify for an exemption under DEP rules.
  • Nonprofits and certain legally required bag uses are exempted as described.

Procedural status and timeline (as provided)

  • Filed: 1/17/2025 (Senate docket)
  • Introduced: 2/19/2025
  • Referred to Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (and later to Codes)
  • Passed Senate: 4/08/2025; delivered to the House (referred to Codes)
  • Hearing scheduled: 05/06/2025 (A‑1)
  • Accompanied by a new draft: S.2541 (6/23/2025) (Note: legislative action entries in the provided record include duplicates and some inconsistent entries.)

Potential impacts

  • Environmental: expected reduction in single‑use plastic bag litter and related environmental harms.
  • Economic: modest direct cost to consumers for replacement bags ($0.10 minimum); potential administrative costs for retailers (pricing, signage, compliance). Retailers retain collected fees.
  • Small businesses: relief available through a DEP exemption if eligibility criteria are met.
  • Implementation: effectiveness depends on DEP rulemaking, enforcement, and consumer behavior.

If you want, I can produce a one‑page factsheet for retailers summarizing compliance steps and deadlines or draft suggested talking points for stakeholders.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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