Plastic Bag

Local governments can't ban plastic bags or other containers under a new Michigan law.

(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

LANSING, MI -- The bill to ban local governments from banning plastic bags and other disposable containers is now Michigan law, as it was signed by Lt. Gov. Brian Calley on Wednesday afternoon.

The bill moves to preempt local governments from putting in place ordinances disallowing or placing fees on disposable containers. That would affect Washtenaw County, which planned to start enforcing a 10-cent charge on paper and plastic grocery bags in 2017.

Rep. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, spoke in opposition to the bill on the House floor.

"This is a bill that attacks local control," Irwin said.

The bill passed anyway, 62-46. It passed the Senate 25-12. Calley signed it on Wednesday; it's his constitutional power to sign bills when Gov. Rick Snyder is out of the state. Snyder is out of state spending time with his family, a spokeswoman said.

The bills were championed by the Michigan Restaurant Association, which claimed a victory with the bill's signing. It prevents chain restaurants and retailers for having to comply with a patchwork of local container ordinances, said association Vice President of Government Affairs Robert O'Meara.

"With many of our members owning and operating locations across the state, preventing a patchwork approach of additional regulations is imperative to avoid added complexities as it related to day-to-day business operations," O'Meara said.

Senate Bill 853 is now Public Act 389 of 2016.

Note: This story has been corrected to reflect the House's correct vote count.