Bill to prevent SD cities from banning plastic bags advances – Daily Inter Lake

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) A bill to prevent South Dakota cities from banning plastic bags and straws is advancing at the state Legislature.

The Senate Commerce and Energy Committee approved the bill on a 4-2 vote Tuesday. The measure now goes to the full Senate.

Committee members heard testimony about the impact the bill would have on businesses, the environment and people with disabilities, the Argus Leader reported.

The bill's sponsor, Republican John Wiik of Big Stone City, said prohibiting cities from banning plastic bags and straws is needed because South Dakota is one large, spread-out small town and that what is good for one small city should be good for all cities in the state.

But Rebecca Turk of Dakota Rural Action argued that farmers and ranchers also have problems with plastic that blows into their fields. She said big cities don't want to be told what to do as much as small communities don't.

Brett Glirbas of Sioux Falls, who has cerebral palsy, told the committee that bans on plastic straws don't take into consideration residents with disabilities. Single-use plastic straws are safe and most cost-effective for people with disabilities to use, he said via interpretation by his mother. With his reflex, he said he could bite down on a metal straw and injure himself.

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Bill to prevent SD cities from banning plastic bags advances - Daily Inter Lake