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HB 6229 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING A REDUCTION OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS AND POLYSTYRENE WASTE.

HB 6229 bans polystyrene foodware (like foam containers) and most single-use plastic items (including straws, stirrers, and food accessories) for food vendors, government agencies, schools, and businesses starting July 1, 2027. Exceptions include biodegradable straws provided upon request (especially for people with disabilities) and specific packaging uses like pre-sealed food or meat storage. The bill also requires state/municipal buildings and schools to install reusable water bottle filling stations when replacing drinking fountains, effective January 2027. A task force will study sustainable alternatives and report by February 2026, but the law itself focuses on direct restrictions and infrastructure changes.
Issues: ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans single-use plastics/polystyrene to reduce pollution and protect environment, directly aligning with environmental conservation goals.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Apr 29, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Bill → ENV Joint Favorable Substitute · 7 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to delay key environmental restrictions on single-use plastics and polystyrene from 2026-2027 to July 1, 2027, and to create a new task force to study alternatives and implementation strategies. The changes also modify enforcement language to be more lenient and add specific exemptions for certain packaging uses.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include a new task force for studying single-use plastic reduction, and the applicability of restrictions was delayed by approximately 6-18 months depending on the provision.
TIMELINE

The effective date for polystyrene and single-use plastic restrictions was changed from January 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027, giving businesses more time to transition to alternatives.

REQUIREMENT

A new task force was created to study single-use plastic reduction, identify alternatives, and develop implementation recommendations, with specific member composition requirements.

New requirements mandate that state and municipal buildings install bottle-filling stations when undertaking capital projects or replacing drinking fountains to promote reusable water bottle use.

ENFORCEMENT

Enforcement language was softened from 'educational outreach' to 'educational outreach efforts' and added 'fair compliance timeline' to the enforcement plan requirements.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'single-use plastic' was updated to include 'foodware accessories' and clarified that biodegradable or compostable straws may be provided upon request to anyone, not just persons with disabilities.

EXEMPTIONS

New exemptions were added for polystyrene packaging used for prepackaged food, raw/frozen meat or seafood in butcher cases, fully encased coolers, and reusable agricultural polystyrene.

TECHNICAL

The department responsible for developing compliance guidelines for bottle-filling stations was changed from Energy and Environmental Protection to Administrative Services.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
REF. BY HOUSE TO COMMITTEE ON Appropriations
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
DRAFTED BY COMMITTEE
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.