California’s so-called “freedom state” is once again flexing its regulatory muscle, this time taking aim at plastic bags. Governor Gavin Newsom, the Democratic leader infamous for his overreach, signed Senate Bill 1053 into law, as reported by the Gateway Pundit.

The new legislation, co-authored by State Senator Catherine Blakespear, goes further than previous attempts, effectively banning plastic checkout bags in the state by 2026.

This latest move comes after the failure of the 2014 law, which was supposed to reduce plastic waste but had the opposite effect.

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While SB 270 prohibited single-use bags, it still allowed grocery stores to offer thicker, reusable plastic bags that were considered recyclable. Instead of solving the problem, people continued to throw away these supposedly “reusable” bags, causing the weight of discarded bags to increase by 30%. SB 1053 intends to clean up that mess by banning these plastic bags entirely.

The new law, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, only focuses on checkout bags. Exemptions are in place for bags used for produce or food items that might cause contamination.

In another change coming in 2028, the definition of a “recycled” paper bag will shift from 40% recycled content to over 50%. It’s a classic California overregulation, focusing on the minutiae of recycled percentages while ignoring the larger waste problem.

Interestingly, while Newsom signed SB 1053 into law, he vetoed another environmental bill, AB 2214, which would have required state agencies to tackle the issue of microplastics.

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Newsom justified his veto by pointing to an existing 2018 law, claiming it already provides a comprehensive plan to address the problem. But one has to wonder—if this 2018 law is so effective, why is California still grappling with these issues?

California isn’t the only state jumping on the plastic-banning bandwagon. New Jersey, another Democrat-controlled state, enacted its own plastic bag ban in 2022.

The results? Plastic use actually increased due to the bulkier reusable bags being more plastic-intensive. This trend isn’t surprising—these “green” policies seem to consistently backfire, creating more problems than they solve.

This push to rid California of plastic is part of a broader, more aggressive climate agenda in the state. Along with the plastic ban, California is aiming to phase out gas-powered vehicles by 2035 and transition to 100% renewable energy by 2045, as reported by the Daily Caller.

These lofty goals come with hefty costs, both financially and logistically, and one can’t help but question if they’re practical.

Blakespear praised the bill, stating, “Consumers will simply be asked if they want a paper bag, if they haven’t brought a reusable bag.” It sounds simple enough, but the devil, as always, is in the details.

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