Resurrecting an issue that has popped up around the country over the past few years, the state senate last week passed legislation that would outlaw single use plastic bags as well as paper bags in New Jersey.  The legislation, SB 865, which requires a warning for first offenses, but then provides for a fine of $1,000 for a second violation and $5,000 for each subsequent offense, passed the Senate on a vote of 22-14. The bill does not ban plastic straws in New Jersey but allows for their use only when specifically requested by a customer. Some version of this proposal has been kicked around in Trenton for the past several years, but this is the first time that such a proposal has advanced in either branch. The Assembly is said to be working on its own version of a plastic bag ban. More to come as this issue progresses.