H 7913Pollution & Waste

Food and Drugs - Single-Use Plastic Straws

Restaurants cannot provide single-use plastic straws automatically; customers must ask for them or pick them up themselves.

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Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Environment and Natural Resources

Plain-English Summary

This legislation modifies the rules for food service establishments regarding single-use plastic straws. Under this bill, restaurants and other food service providers are prohibited from automatically providing a single-use plastic straw to a customer. Instead, a straw may only be provided if the customer specifically requests one or if the customer picks one up from a self-service area. This effectively changes the policy from "opt-out" to "opt-in" for plastic straws.

For younger readers

When you go to a restaurant, the waiter usually brings you a drink with a straw already in it. This new rule says that restaurants can't give you a plastic straw automatically anymore. If you want a plastic straw for your juice or soda, you have to ask the waiter for one, or you can grab one yourself from the counter. This helps stop people from throwing away plastic straws they didn't even want to use.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Food service establishmentsRestaurant customersWaitstaff and serversIndividuals with disabilitiesEnvironmental advocacy groups

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Reduces environmental pollution by decreasing the volume of single-use plastics entering the waste stream and waterways, aligning with sustainability goals.
Ensures equity and accessibility for individuals with disabilities by allowing straws to remain available upon request, rather than implementing a total ban which can harm those who rely on them for drinking.
Encourages a societal shift toward conscious consumption by requiring individuals to actively choose to use a plastic product rather than receiving it by default.
May be viewed as performative environmentalism that places the burden of change on individual consumers rather than regulating the production practices of large corporate polluters.
Does not mandate the use of biodegradable or compostable alternatives, meaning fossil-fuel-based plastics will continue to be used and discarded.
Could create social friction or unwanted attention for individuals with invisible disabilities who must publicly request a straw to be accommodated.

For Conservatives

Preserves consumer freedom and market choice by avoiding a total government ban on a product that many people still prefer or find useful.
Reduces operating costs for business owners by lowering the inventory consumption of straws that are often discarded without being used.
Represents a less intrusive form of regulation compared to the heavy-handed prohibitions and product bans often proposed by environmental activists.
Represents government overreach by micromanaging the day-to-day service operations of private businesses and dictating how they interact with their patrons.
Creates a regulatory trap for small business owners who may face penalties or enforcement actions simply for a server forgetting to ask before providing a straw.
Sets a precedent for further government interference in consumer habits, acting as a "slippery slope" toward more restrictive mandates on legal products.

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 2 additions

SECTION 1. Section 21-27.2-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 21-27.2 entitled "Single- Use Plastic Straws" is hereby amended to read as follows: 21-27.2-2. Prohibited practices exception. A food service establishment shall not provide a single-use plastic straw to a consumer unless requested or directly taken by the consumer.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.