The tax-averse Virginia House of Delegates rejected a bag tax this year, while its neighbors across the Potomac River have embraced the new charge. Del. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, introduced a nickel-a-bag fee on paper and plastic bags during this year’s General Assembly. Retailers would have kept a fraction of the fee, with revenues to be deposited into the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund.

“I introduced it because I believe strongly that we need to do everything we can to keep our streams and rivers clean,” Ebbin said. “It’s very much an educational process with many of my colleagues, and not every bill passes the first time or second time out.”