Bexar County, TX Single-Use Items: Plastic Straw Rules (2026)

There is no Bexar County straw-on-request rule and no countywide ban on plastic straws. Texas Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 and the 2018 Laredo Merchants ruling cast doubt on whether local governments could mandate alternative materials or fees on disposable foodservice items. Some Bexar County restaurants voluntarily switch to paper, compostable, or stainless straws, or provide straws only on request, for cost or sustainability reasons. Accessibility advocates have noted that bendable plastic straws remain important for people with certain disabilities, and any future local rule would need to address that. The Americans with Disabilities Act applies regardless of any local single-use-items rule.