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Mississippi Statewide Rule

Mississippi Plastic Bag Local Preemption Law

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across Mississippi (2026)

Key Facts

Enacted
SB 2570 in 2018
Codified at
Miss. Code §§ 17-1-71 to 17-1-75
Covers
Bags, cups, bottles, packaging
Bans
Local fees, taxes, prohibitions
Applies to
Cities and counties statewide
Last verified: September 5, 2026Source: Justia Law

Summary

Mississippi's 2018 auxiliary-container preemption law, Miss. Code Sections 17-1-71 through 17-1-75, bars cities and counties from regulating, banning, taxing, or charging fees on auxiliary containers including plastic bags, cups, and packaging.

Subject to Section 17-1-75, a local unit of government shall not adopt or enforce an ordinance that does any of the following: (a) Regulates the use, disposition or sale of auxiliary containers. (b) Prohibits or restricts auxiliary containers. (c) Imposes a fee, charge or tax on auxiliary containers, or additional sales tax to consumers.

Full Breakdown

Enacted by SB 2570 in 2018 and codified at Miss. Code Sections 17-1-71 through 17-1-75, Mississippi prohibits local governments from adopting or enforcing any ordinance that regulates the use, sale, prohibition, restriction, taxation, or fee on auxiliary containers. Section 17-1-71 defines auxiliary containers expansively to include reusable and single-use bags, cups, bottles, packages, and food or beverage containers made of plastic, paper, glass, aluminum, cardboard, or similar materials; Section 17-1-73 is the operative prohibition. The law ensures uniform statewide treatment, so municipal bag bans, fees, and container mandates are unenforceable.

Violations & Penalties

Local ordinances regulating auxiliary containers are void; affected parties may seek declaratory relief invalidating conflicting municipal rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Mississippi cities ban single-use plastic bags?
No. Miss. Code Sections 17-1-71 through 17-1-75 preempt local plastic-bag bans and similar auxiliary-container regulations, making any such ordinance unenforceable.
Does the Mississippi preemption law cover paper bags?
Yes. The statute's broad definition of auxiliary containers includes paper bags, cups, and packaging in addition to plastic items.

Sources

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