A December 10 Gazette.net article reports that members of the Prince George’s County delegation will again introduce legislation creating a disposable bag fee in the County, similar to fees already in place in Montgomery County and the District of Columbia.  The fee would apply to both paper and plastic disposable bags and would be the fourth time the Maryland General Assembly has considered the bill.  From the article:

“We’ve built on support every year,” said County Councilwoman Mary Lehman (Dist. 1) of Laurel, who has been an outspoken supporter of the bill. “There’s an awareness that didn’t exist four or five years ago. So I’m hopeful, and we’re going to keep at it.”

The bill, PG402-14, would allow the Prince George’s County Council to impose a fee of up to five cents on retail disposable bags, paper or plastic, as part of retail sales.  …

Last year, the bill had enough votes to pass, said Del. Barbara Frush (D-21) of Beltsville, the House sponsor of the bill, but other delegates looking for a way to fund a bill requiring county schools install turf fields, attached amendments to her bill directing the revenue towards the fields.

“The primary purpose of the bill was to protect the environment, and turf fields do not protect the environment,” Frush said. “So I withdrew the bill.”

The article also notes that four Prince George’s County residents commented on the bill at a public hearing and all spoke in support of the proposed legislations.