House Bill 392, the Single-Use Plastic Bag Act, seeks to eliminate single-use plastic bags statewide in New Mexico, following in the footsteps of cities like Carlsbad, Las Cruces, Silver City, Santa Fe, and Taos.
New Mexicans currently use over 330 million of these bags annually, which only serve their purpose for about 12 minutes but remain in the environment for up to 1,000 years.
The bill, carried by Rep. Tara Lujan (D-Santa Fe), passed the House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee on a 7-4 vote and is now set to move to the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee.
If passed, the bill would impose a statewide ban on these bags with a few exceptions, such as for takeout food, produce separation, and prescription drugs. Additionally, stores would charge a 10-cent fee for paper bags, with most of the revenue funding local litter reduction efforts.
The fiscal impact of the bill is significant, with potential savings of $3.8 million annually in materials recovery facilities due to fewer disruptions from plastic bags.
However, some lawmakers, like Rep. Jonathan Henry (R-Artesia), have raised concerns about the state mandating a ban, suggesting municipalities should have more autonomy to decide for themselves.
If the bill passes, it will go into effect on January 1, 2026, marking a significant step toward reducing plastic waste in the state.