A Dallas lawmaker says the state should tax plastic grocery bags to promote the use of reusable bags and cut down on litter.
Rep. Rafael Anchia is supporting a bill in the Legislature that would tax the bags by 7 cents.
He said the bags often end up as litter along highways after they are passed out in grocery and retail stores. The bags also get stuck in trees, creeks, rivers and other bodies water, making them a danger to wildlife, Anchia said.
The Dallas Democrat said he hopes passing House Bill 1361 will encourage people think twice about using plastic bags.
"The goal of the legislation is to reduce demand and encourage consumers to use their own reusable bags when shopping," he said in a statement.
If the measure passes, retailers would keep 3 percent of the fees collected, while municipalities would use the remaining money to help fund recycling programs.
