AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Senate gave initial approval Tuesday to a bill that if enacted would ban single-use plastic bags at the statewide level.
Several municipalities in Maine have already taken action and banned the bags' use at the local level.
RELATED: Statewide plastic bag ban moves closer to becoming law
RELATED: Maine becomes first state to ban Styrofoam food containers
The Senate voted 24-11 Tuesday in favor of the measure, mostly along party lines. Three Republican senators voted in favor — Sens. Lisa Keim of Dixfield, Marianne Moore of Calais and Kim Rosen of Bucksport.
The House voted 91-52 last Thursday.
The bill faces additional legislative action in both chambers.
LD 1532, presented by Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, aims to prohibit retail establishments from using single-use bags to bag products for customers to carry out and allow recyclable paper bags to be used at 5 cents a piece.
The bill, if successful, would make the ban effective April 2020.
BIDDEFORD: Biddeford bans plastic bags, joins growing list of locations
WATERVILLE: Proposed bag ban in Waterville goes to Maine high court
YORK: York voters approve first plastic shopping bag ban in Maine
FREEPORT: Freeport council considers plastic bag ban
PORTLAND: Portland passes a bag fee and Styrofoam ban