HB 5112

Creates the Carryout Bag Reduction Act. Imposes, beginning January 1, 2027, a carryout bag fee of $0.10 on each carryout bag used by a consumer at a retail mercantile establishment. Increases the amount of the fee by $0.05 every year until the fee is $0.25 per carryout bag. Provides that the fee shall be further increased by $0.05 per year if certain goals are not met. Requires retail mercantile establishments to retain a specific amount of the fee and remit the remainder to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the Carryout Bag Fee Fund. Requires a specific amount of the fee to be deposited into the General Revenue Fund through 2030 and requires the remainder of the fee to be remitted either (i) to the county where the retail mercantile establishment is located or (ii) if a municipal joint action agency or a municipality with a population greater than 1,000,000 is located in the county, then to either the municipal joint action agency if the fee was collected from a retail mercantile establishment located within the municipal joint action agency service area or to the municipality with a population greater than 1,000,000 if the fee was collected from a retail mercantile establishment located within the municipality with a population greater than 1,000,000. Prohibits, beginning January 1, 2027, plastic bags from being used to transport goods from a retail mercantile establishment for delivery to the location of a consumer. Requires the Department to annually report certain information to the General Assembly and post that information on the Department's website. Establishes requirements for use of the revenue received from the carryout bag fee for units of local government. Exempts from the requirements of the Act bags for items purchased pursuant to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or any similar governmental food assistance program. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to develop certain materials. Establishes civil penalties for violations of the Act. Provides for enforcement by the Attorney General or a State's Attorney, with penalties collected by the Attorney General to be deposited into the Solid Waste Management Fund. Limits home rule powers and functions. Defines terms. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Carryout Bag Fee Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.