Environment
HB1662
Chief Patron:
Michael Jones
(D)
Current Status: Failed
Summary as Introduced:
Prohibits any grocery store, as defined in the bill, from selling or distributing any plastic carryout bag, as defined in the bill, to its customers on or after January 1, 2027, unless such bag qualifies as an exempt bag, as defined in the bill. The bill provides that any grocery store that violates this provision shall be issued by the Department of Environmental Quality a written warning for the first violation and shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500 for a second and each subsequent violation as determined by the Director of the Department. The bill also requires any grocery store, no later than January 1, 2027, to develop, implement, and maintain a program to encourage its customers to utilize reusable bags, as defined in the bill.
Drafting
Long before the session started, Delegate Jones worked with Virginia's Division of Legislative Services (DLS) to put this bill in proper legal form. During this phase, legislators describe their policy goals, and DLS provides nonpartisan legal and research support. This is called the "prefiling period," and typically begins in late fall and ends shortly before the session starts in January.
Jan. 3
Prefiling
Delegate Jones submitted this bill for pre-filing with the Virginia Division of Legislative Services (DLS) on Jan. 3, 2025.
It was given a title, assigned a unique number and became House Bill 1662 (HB1662) of the 2025 Regular Session.
At this point its text was entered into the official public record. This allows anyone interested in the bill, including citizens and interest groups, to review the proposed legislation in advance.
Official Description: "Sale and distribution of plastic carryout bags by grocery stores prohibited; civil penalty."
Assigned to Committee
HB1662 was referred to a House committee:
Courts of Justice.
In the House of Delegates, the Speaker of the House (Don Scott) assigns bills to committees based on the subject matter of the bill and the jurisdiction of the committees. The House Rules provide guidelines for which topics go to which committees (Download House Rules). The Speaker has considerable decision-making power in determining which committee is most appropriate.
In the U.S. Congress, committee jurisdictions — where bills should go — is more strictly defined, so leadership in Congress has more power to decide where bills should be assigned. Another difference is that bills in the GA are generally assigned to a single committee in each chamber, where in Congress bills are frequently referred to multiple committees in the House and sometimes in the Senate.
Jan. 13
Reassigned by Vote
HB1662 was referred to Agriculture, Chesapeake & Natural Resources after a voice vote.
The committee decided that another committee was more appropriate to review or handle the bill (e.g., based on subject matter expertise or jurisdiction). A voice vote is a quick, informal voting method where members verbally express their support or opposition.
Jan. 14
Assigned to Subcommittee
HB1662 was referred to a House subcommittee:
Natural Resources.
Subcommittees are smaller groups within a committee that review bills in detail and make recommendations to the full committee. In contrast to the federal government, subcommittees in Virginia's General Assembly are typically smaller, faster-moving, and more focused on specific issues. In Congress, subcommittees often conduct extensive hearings and may hold bills for long periods for debate or amendment.
Jan. 25
Impact Statement
A fiscal impact statement reports on the bill's potential financial effects: costs or savings to the state budget or local governments (e.g., hiring new staff, implementing programs).
Legislators requested a fiscal impact statement from the Department of Planning and Budget.
Impact statements provide legislators with factual, nonpartisan data, helping them weigh the benefits and drawbacks of a bill.
Jan. 29
Tabled
The Natural Resources committee
voted to "lay the bill on the table." When a bill is tabled, it's unlikely to proceed to the full committee or the floor for a vote. HB1662's journey has most likely ended here with this vote.
The official record reads: "Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (9-Y 1-N)"
Feb. 4
Tuesday, February 4 was "Crossover Day": the last day for each house to act on its own legislation (except Budget Bills).
Died in Committee
HB1662 has been "left in committee", meaning that lawmakers in Agriculture, Chesapeake & Natural Resources
have decided not to take action on it. Its journey for the session has ended.
The official record reads: "Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources"