Senate Environment and Agriculture Committee to consider bill curtailing plastic straw use

The Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture is scheduled to meet Wednesday to consider legislation that would curtail the use of plastic straws in restaurants.

 The meeting will take place Wednesday, June 5, at the rise of the Senate (about 5 p.m.) in Room 211 on the second floor of the State House.

The committee is scheduled to vote on a bill (2019-S 0202A) introduced by Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) that would prohibit a food service establishment from providing a consumer with a single-use plastic straw, unless the straw is from a self-service dispenser or the consumer requests such a straw.

The panel will also consider several appointments to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation and the Rhode Island Executive Climate Change Council Science and Technical Advisory Board, which requires the advice and consent of the Senate.

The Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture is chaired by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham).