# Virginia HB1662: Sale and distribution of plastic carryout bags by grocery stores prohibited; civil penalty.

Virginia HB1662, Sale and distribution of plastic carryout bags by grocery stores prohibited; civil penalty., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Michael J. Jones (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-04 (Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1662-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1662
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Sale and distribution of plastic carryout bags by grocery stores prohibited; civil penalty.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-03
- Last action: 2025-02-04, Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
- Sponsor: Michael J. Jones (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (9 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Sale and distribution of plastic carryout bags by grocery stores prohibited; civil penalty. 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.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Michael J. Jones (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | pass | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025-01-13 | House | Referred from Courts of Justice and referred to Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (7)

- 2025-02-04: Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2025-01-29: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (9-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2025-01-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1662) (House)
- 2025-01-14: Assigned ACNR sub: Natural Resources (House)
- 2025-01-13: Referred from Courts of Justice and referred to Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2025-01-03: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-01-03: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25101161D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012531.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012530.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012531.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012530.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1662-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).