Ban on plastic bans killed in South Dakota House

A bill to prevent South Dakota cities from banning plastic bags, straws and beverage containers is killed in the South Dakota House of Representatives on a narrow 30-33 vote Thursday.

The bill’s author, Republican Senator John Wiik of Big Stone City, says prohibiting cities from banning plastic bags and straws is needed because South Dakota is one large, spread-out small town and that what is good for one small city should be good for all cities in the state.

Opponents say the bill violates local control.

Doug Post of Volga was the bill’s sponsor on the House side. He gave notice of intent to try and bring the bill back up for reconsideration. That would take a majority vote of the representatives.

There were 7 excused votes Thursday.

The bill had earlier made it through the Senate.