Legislation banning Idaho cities or counties from enacting plastic bag bans cleared the Senate Local Government & Tax Committee this afternoon on a narrow 5-4 vote, and headed to the full Senate. The bill, HB 372, passed the House Feb. 3 on a 52-17 vote. Backed by retailers and business interests, the bill seeks to ensure that only the state can regulate “auxiliary containers,” from plastic grocery bags to Styrofoam food containers – not local cities or counties.

Sen. Dan Johnson, R-Lewiston, said, “I’m not really comfortable with telling the local counties they can’t regulate their solid waste,” when state law makes them responsible for dealing with trash. He was among the four voting against the bill, along with Sens. Siddoway, Stennett and Burgoyne; Sens. Guthrie, McKenzie, Rice, Vick and Bayer voted in favor of it. The measure needs passage in the full Senate and the governor’s signature to become law.