Gavin Newsom Signs New Plastic Bag Ban After California’s First Attempt Backfired

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom enacted a law Sunday that will ban the use of most plastic bags at grocery store checkouts.

The law, S.B. 1053, will prohibit stores from giving customers single-use plastic bags at the point of sale once it takes effect at the start of 2026. The legislation is California’s second attempt to crack down on single-use plastic bags in the state and includes some exemptions, including a carve-out for bags used to carry unwrapped food items.

“I thank Governor Newsom for signing this important legislation that will help protect California’s environment,” California Democratic State Sen. Catherine Blakespear, who introduced the bill, said upon its enactment. “Instead of being asked do you want paper or plastic at checkout, consumers will simply be asked if they want a paper bag, if they haven’t brought a reusable bag. This straightforward approach is easy to follow and will help dramatically reduce plastic bag pollution.”

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California enacted a similar law 10 years ago that banned single-use plastic bags while allowing customers to use thicker plastic bags that met recycling standards and were considered reusable, according to Blakespear. However, that policy seems to have backfired given that relatively few of those thicker bags were ever recycled and they generated more plastic waste over time, the state lawmaker added.