By Lacie Pierson, Charleston Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The House of Delegates passed a bill Tuesday that would prevent any municipal or county government from banning the use of certain utensils or food and drink containers based on what they’re made of.
No city or county in West Virginia has passed any measures banning the use of plastic straws, utensils or other food or drink containers, but they have been discussed, said Delegate Brandon Steele, R-Raleigh, one of the co-sponsors of House Bill 2500.
The goal of HB 2500 is to prevent any local government from banning such items in the way that other cities, including Seattle and San Francisco, have since 2018, Steele said. Having seen other cities pass such ordinances was part of the motivation for the bill, he said.
“Seeing it happen obviously is quite concerning,” Steele said Tuesday afternoon. “The vast majority of constituents I spoke with are against any type of micromanagement by a town council and interference in their everyday life.” …