KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Alaska

HB25 • 2026

DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE WARE

An Act relating to disposable food service ware and containers provided by customers; and providing for an effective date.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
REPRESENTATIVES JOSEPHSON, Hall, Burke, Hannan, Story, Mina, Carrick, Foster, Fields, Jimmie, Galvin SENATORS Kawasaki, Tobin, Gray-Jackson
Last action
2026-05-19
Official status
(H) CONCURRED(S) AM
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on penalties, enforcement by local governments, and provisions during disaster emergencies.

Ban on Polystyrene Foam Food Containers

This act bans restaurants from using polystyrene foam containers for prepared food and allows the state to continue using existing stock until January 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Bans restaurants from providing prepared food in polystyrene foam containers.
  • Allows the state to use or purchase polystyrene foam containers it already has before the ban starts.
  • Encourages restaurants to reuse food service ware instead of using disposable items.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Restaurants and other food service providers
  • The state government

Terms To Know

polystyrene foam
A type of plastic material used to make disposable containers, often called Styrofoam.
disposable food service ware
Items like plates, cups, and bowls that are meant for one-time use when serving prepared food.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify penalties for restaurants that do not comply with the new rules.
  • It is unclear how local governments will enforce or implement their own ordinances regarding polystyrene foam containers.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

AM 1

2175

AM NO 1 ADOPTED Y29 N11

Plain English: AM NO 1 ADOPTED Y29 N11 2175

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 2

2176

AM NO 2 OFFERED AND PENDING

Plain English: AM NO 2 OFFERED AND PENDING 2176

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 1 TO AM 2 ADOPTED Y30 N9 E1

Plain English: AM 1 TO AM 2 ADOPTED Y30 N9 E1 2177

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 3

2179

AM NO 3 ADOPTED Y28 N11 E1

Plain English: AM NO 3 ADOPTED Y28 N11 E1 2179

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 4

2179

AM NO 4 FAILED Y14 N25 E1

Plain English: AM NO 4 FAILED Y14 N25 E1 2179

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 5

2180

AM NO 5 FAILED Y18 N21 E1

Plain English: AM NO 5 FAILED Y18 N21 E1 2180

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 6

2181

AM NO 6 FAILED Y19 N20 E1

Plain English: AM NO 6 FAILED Y19 N20 E1 2181

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 7

2182

AM NO 7 NOT OFFERED

Plain English: AM NO 7 NOT OFFERED 2182

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 8

2182

AM NO 8 OFFERED AND PENDING

Plain English: AM NO 8 OFFERED AND PENDING 2182

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 10

2199

AM NO 10 NOT OFFERED

Plain English: AM NO 10 NOT OFFERED 2199

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 11

2199

AM NO 11 FAILED Y8 N31 E1

Plain English: AM NO 11 FAILED Y8 N31 E1 2199

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 9

2199

AM NO 9 ADOPTED UC

Plain English: AM NO 9 ADOPTED UC 2199

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-19 2944

    (H) AWAITING TRANSMITTAL TO GOV

  2. 2026-05-19 2944

    (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y35 N5

  3. 2026-05-19 2944

    (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y26 N14

  4. 2026-05-19 2943

    (H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP

  5. 2026-05-19 2892

    (H) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND HELD

  6. 2026-05-18 2764

    (S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 25(L&C)

  7. 2026-05-18 2764

    (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED

  8. 2026-05-18 2760

    (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y20 N-

  9. 2026-05-18 2760

    (S) PASSED Y13 N7

  10. 2026-05-18 2759

    (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 25(L&C)

  11. 2026-05-17 2714

    (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/18 CAL

  12. 2026-05-17 2714

    (S) L&C SCS ADOPTED UC

  13. 2026-05-17 2714

    (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  14. 2026-05-17 2714

    (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2026

  15. 2026-05-16 2685

    (S) FN2: ZERO(DEC)

  16. 2026-05-16 2685

    (S) DP: DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON

  17. 2026-05-16 2685

    (S) NR: BJORKMAN, YUNDT

  18. 2026-05-16 2684

    (S) L&C RPT SCS 2NR 2DP SAME TITLE

  19. 2026-05-15 Text

    (S) Moved SCS CSHB 25(L&C) Out of Committee

  20. 2026-05-15 Text

    (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  21. 2026-05-11 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  22. 2026-05-11 Text

    (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  23. 2026-05-06 2486

    (S) FN2: ZERO(DEC)

  24. 2026-05-06 2486

    (S) NR: BJORKMAN, TILTON

  25. 2026-05-06 2486

    (S) DP: KAWASAKI, GRAY-JACKSON

  26. 2026-05-06 2486

    (S) STA RPT 2DP 2NR

  27. 2026-05-05 Text

    (S) Moved CSHB 25(L&C) AM Out of Committee

  28. 2026-05-05 Text

    (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  29. 2026-04-28 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  30. 2026-04-28 Text

    (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  31. 2026-04-22 2328

    (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): KAWASAKI, TOBIN, GRAY-JACKSON

  32. 2026-04-22 2318

    (S) STA, L&C

  33. 2026-04-22 2318

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  34. 2026-04-21 2251

    (H) VERSION: CSHB 25(L&C) AM

  35. 2026-04-21 2251

    (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  36. 2026-04-21 2250

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN

  37. 2026-04-21 2248

    (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y40

  38. 2026-04-21 2248

    (H) PASSED Y25 N15

  39. 2026-04-21 2248

    (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 25(L&C) AM

  40. 2026-04-20 2233

    (H) HELD TO 4/21 CALENDAR

  41. 2026-04-16 2200

    (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/20 CALENDAR

  42. 2026-04-16 2199

    (H) AM NO 11 FAILED Y8 N31 E1

  43. 2026-04-16 2199

    (H) AM NO 10 NOT OFFERED

  44. 2026-04-16 2199

    (H) AM NO 9 ADOPTED UC

  45. 2026-04-16 2198

    (H) AM NO 8 FAILED Y19 N20 E1

  46. 2026-04-16 2198

    (H) BEFORE HOUSE IN SECOND READING

  47. 2026-04-14 2183

    (H) HELD IN SECOND READING TO 4/16 CALENDAR

  48. 2026-04-14 2182

    (H) DEADLINE FOR ALL AMS AT 2:30 P.M. TODAY UC

  49. 2026-04-14 2182

    (H) AM NO 8 OFFERED AND PENDING

  50. 2026-04-14 2182

    (H) AM NO 7 NOT OFFERED

  51. 2026-04-14 2181

    (H) AM NO 6 FAILED Y19 N20 E1

  52. 2026-04-14 2180

    (H) AM NO 5 FAILED Y18 N21 E1

  53. 2026-04-14 2179

    (H) AM NO 4 FAILED Y14 N25 E1

  54. 2026-04-14 2179

    (H) AM NO 3 ADOPTED Y28 N11 E1

  55. 2026-04-14 2178

    (H) AM NO 2 AS AMD FAILED Y15 N24 E1

  56. 2026-04-14 2177

    (H) AM 1 TO AM 2 ADOPTED Y30 N9 E1

  57. 2026-04-14 2177

    (H) AM NO 2 BEFORE HOUSE

  58. 2026-04-14 2176

    (H) AM NO 2 OFFERED AND PENDING

  59. 2026-04-14 2175

    (H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED Y29 N11

  60. 2026-04-14 2175

    (H) L&C CS ADOPTED UC

  61. 2026-04-14 2175

    (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  62. 2026-04-14 2172

    (H) MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR

  63. 2026-04-13 2160

    (H) HELD TO 4/14 CALENDAR

  64. 2026-04-13 2143

    (H) MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR

  65. 2026-04-13 2139

    (H) MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR

  66. 2026-04-13 2139

    (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/13/2025

  67. 2026-03-25 1962

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): JIMMIE

  68. 2026-03-05 1789

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): FIELDS

  69. 2026-03-04 1779

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): FOSTER

  70. 2026-02-02 1544

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): CARRICK

  71. 2026-01-23 1484

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): MINA

  72. 2026-01-22 1462

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): STORY

  73. 2025-04-07 626

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): BURKE, HANNAN

  74. 2025-03-28 568

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): HALL

  75. 2025-03-17 475

    (H) FN1: ZERO(DEC)

  76. 2025-03-17 475

    (H) NR: NELSON, COULOMBE

  77. 2025-03-17 475

    (H) DP: CARRICK, BURKE, HALL, FIELDS

  78. 2025-03-17 475

    (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) NEW TITLE 4DP 2NR

  79. 2025-03-14 Min

    (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  80. 2025-03-14 Text

    (H) Moved CSHB 25(L&C) Out of Committee

  81. 2025-03-14 Text

    (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  82. 2025-03-10 Text

    (H) -- Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

  83. 2025-03-10 Text

    (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  84. 2025-03-05 Min

    (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  85. 2025-03-05 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  86. 2025-03-05 Text

    (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  87. 2025-02-26 248

    (H) FN1: ZERO(DEC)

  88. 2025-02-26 248

    (H) AM: MCCABE, MOORE

  89. 2025-02-26 248

    (H) DP: HOLLAND, HIMSCHOOT, STORY, CARRICK

  90. 2025-02-26 248

    (H) STA RPT 4DP 2AM

  91. 2025-02-25 Min

    (H) Minutes (HSTA)

  92. 2025-02-25 Text

    (H) Moved HB 25 Out of Committee

  93. 2025-02-25 Text

    (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  94. 2025-02-20 Min

    (H) Minutes (HSTA)

  95. 2025-02-20 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  96. 2025-02-20 Text

    (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  97. 2025-02-18 Min

    (H) Minutes (HSTA)

  98. 2025-02-18 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  99. 2025-02-18 Text

    (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  100. 2025-01-22 37

    (H) STA, L&C

  101. 2025-01-22 37

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  102. 2025-01-22 37

    (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25

Official Summary Text

DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE WARE
An Act relating to disposable food service ware and containers provided by customers; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB0025D -1- SCS CSHB 25(L&C)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0256\I

SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 25(L&C)

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE

Offered: 5/16/26
Referred: Rules

Sponsor(s): REPRESENTATIVES JOSEPHSON, Hall, Burke, Hannan, Story, Mina, Carrick, Foster, Fields,
Jimmie, Galvin

SENATORS Kawasaki, Tobin, Gray-Jackson
A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to disposable food service ware and containers provided by customers; 1
and providing for an effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 17.20 is amended by adding a new section to read: 4
Sec. 17.20.035. Disposable food service ware. (a) Except as provided in (d) - 5
(g) of this section, a restaurant may not provide prepared food in polystyrene foam 6
disposable food service ware. 7
(b) The state may not use or purchase polystyrene foam disposable food 8
service ware. 9
(c) The department shall recommend that a restaurant reuse food service ware 10
in place of disposable food service ware. 11
(d) The department may adopt regulations that allow a restaurant to provide 12
prepared food in a clean container provided by a customer of the restaurant. The 13
regulations must establish procedures to prevent cross-contamination. 14
34-LS0256\I
SCS CSHB 25(L&C) -2- HB0025D
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

(e) The restriction on use of polystyrene foam disposable food service ware 1
under (a) of this section does not apply to 2
(1) prepared food prepared or packaged outside the state; 3
(2) an area affected by a disaster emergency for the duration of the 4
disaster emergency. 5
(f) A restaurant may apply to the department for an exemption from the 6
requirements of this section. The department may grant an exemption to the restaurant 7
for a particular product or type of disposable food service ware if the restaurant 8
demonstrates to the department that 9
(1) an affordable product is not available to replace a polystyrene foam 10
product; or 11
(2) applying the requirements of this section to the particular product 12
or type of disposable food service ware would cause undue financial and logistical 13
hardship to the restaurant. 14
(g) A municipality may by ordinance allow a restaurant to provide prepared 15
food in polystyrene foam disposable food service ware. This section does not apply to 16
a restaurant in a municipality that has adopted an ordinance allowing a restaurant to 17
provide prepared food in polystyrene foam disposable food service ware. 18
(h) In this section, 19
(1) "disaster emergency" has the meaning given in AS 26.23.900; 20
(2) "disposable food service ware" means a container, bowl, plate, tray, 21
carton, cup, lid, or other item designated for one-time use in which a restaurant or 22
customer places or packages prepared food so that the food may be taken from the 23
restaurant for consumption; 24
(3) "polystyrene foam" means Styrofoam, blown polystyrene, or an 25
expanded foam that is made of thermoplastic petrochemical materials using a styrene 26
monomer and processed by fusion of polymer spheres, injection molding, foam 27
molding, extrusion-blow molding, or other techniques; 28
(4) "restaurant" includes a coffee kiosk, a grocery deli, a hospital or 29
school food operation, a caterer, a concession, a food hybrid service businesses, a 30
place maintained for the sale and on-premises consumption of food, and a street 31
34-LS0256\I
HB0025D -3- SCS CSHB 25(L&C)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

vendor who sells food prepared for immediate consumption. 1
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 2
read: 3
TRANSITION: POLYSTYRENE PRODUCTS. (a) Notwithstanding AS 17.20.035, 4
enacted by sec. 1 of this Act, a restaurant may provide prepared food in polystyrene foam 5
disposable food service ware after the effective date of this Act if the restaurant obtained the 6
polystyrene foam disposable food service ware before the effective date of this Act. 7
(b) Notwithstanding AS 17.20.035, enacted by sec. 1 of this Act, the state may use 8
polystyrene foam disposable food service ware after the effective date of this Act if the state 9
purchased the polystyrene foam disposable food service ware before the effective date of this 10
Act. 11
* Sec. 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2027. 12