Overview
- Sen. Jennifer Bradley filed SB 958 on Dec. 18, with a matching House measure later in December, for consideration when the legislative session opens Jan. 13.
- The proposal would bar cities and counties from regulating drinking straws or stirrers unless approved products meet third-party certifications for renewable content, home and industrial compostability, and marine biodegradability.
- Recognized verifiers named in the bill include the Biodegradable Products Institute, the USDA BioPreferred Program, and TÜV Austria.
- Local governments would have until Jan. 1, 2027 to revise noncompliant ordinances, with exemptions for prepackaged beverages and for hospitals, medical facilities, and senior care facilities.
- The measure cites studies reporting PFAS in many paper straws and could force changes to city rules in places like Orlando, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, with potential operational effects for large operators such as Walt Disney World.