A measure to block local governments from banning or taxing plastic bags is moving forward in the Missouri Legislature.
The Missouri House gave first-round approval Tuesday to a measure that pre-empts local laws on plastic bags at grocery stores.
Republican Rep. Dan Shaul, of Imperial, says the measure will protect the choices of consumers and retailers to use either paper, plastic or their own bags.
The city of Columbia had considered banning plastic bags but has since dropped that proposal.
Opponents of the measure say that plastic bags harm the environment and that local communities should be able to make their own decisions on the issue.
