California Governor Gavin Newsom enacts a full plastic shopping bag ban at grocery stores, effective 2026.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted a law that bans all plastic shopping bags at grocery stores, effective 2026. This law expands upon a previous ban on thin plastic bags, which allowed thicker, reusable ones. A state study showed that plastic bag waste rose from 8 to 11 pounds per person between 2004 and 2021. Environmental groups support the measure as crucial for reducing pollution and protecting marine life, with California joining 12 other states with similar bans.