VirginiaHB3412026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Plastic bag tax; distribution to towns.

Sponsored By: Marty Martinez (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Plastic bag tax; distribution to towns. Requires that any town located within a county that has imposed a disposable plastic bag tax receive a distribution of revenues collected by the county based on the local sales tax distribution formula for appropriations to towns. The bill restricts a town's use of such revenues to the same purposes allowable for a county or city.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

Bag tax funds cleanup and towns

All bag tax money must go to environmental cleanup, waste education, cutting pollution and litter, or giving reusable bags to SNAP or WIC recipients. Towns inside a county that collects the tax get a share using the state’s local sales tax formula. Payments come on the same schedule as local sales tax. Towns must also use the funds only for the allowed purposes.

Rules to start local bag tax

A local bag tax must start on the first day of a calendar quarter. It cannot start before January 1, 2021. The locality must send a certified copy of its ordinance to the Virginia Tax Commissioner at least three months before the start date.

Five-cent bag charge for shoppers

In places that adopt this tax, you pay $0.05 for each disposable plastic bag. It applies at grocery stores, convenience stores, and drugstores, even if the bag is free. To estimate your yearly cost, multiply $0.05 by how many disposable bags your household uses.

Retailers must collect bag tax

When a county or city adopts the bag tax, grocery, convenience, and drugstore retailers must collect it at checkout. They add $0.05 per disposable plastic bag to the bill and remit the tax to the locality.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Marty Martinez

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 157 • No: 63

Senate vote 2/19/2026

Passed Senate

Yes: 22 • No: 16

Senate vote 2/18/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/17/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 8 • No: 5

House vote 1/27/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 67 • No: 32

House vote 1/21/2026

Reported from Finance

Yes: 15 • No: 7

House vote 1/20/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 7 • No: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0112)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 112 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact statement From TAX (2/24/2026 7:43 am)

    2/24/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB341ER)

    2/23/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    2/23/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    2/23/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    2/23/2026House
  10. Passed Senate (22-Y 16-N 0-A)

    2/19/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    2/19/2026Senate
  12. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/18/2026Senate
  13. Rules suspended

    2/18/2026Senate
  14. Passed by for the day

    2/18/2026Senate
  15. Read second time

    2/18/2026Senate
  16. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 5-N)

    2/17/2026Senate
  17. Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations

    1/28/2026Senate
  18. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    1/28/2026Senate
  19. Read third time and passed House (67-Y 32-N 0-A)

    1/27/2026House
  20. Read second time and engrossed

    1/26/2026House
  21. Read first time

    1/23/2026House
  22. Reported from Finance (15-Y 7-N)

    1/21/2026House
  23. Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N)

    1/20/2026House
  24. Fiscal Impact statement From TAX (1/19/2026 10:03 pm)

    1/19/2026House
  25. Assigned HFIN sub: Subcommittee #2

    1/16/2026House

Bill Text

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