In our pursuit to fight the harmful effects of tray loss through policymaking, ABA has produced impactful success on the state level.
Maryland
In 2013, ABA spearheaded a legislative effort in Maryland, leading to the successful passage of H.B. 1088. This bill, which passed unanimously through the Maryland legislature, allowed the owners of returnable assets to bring a civil action and recover damages from theft, while also increasing specified penalties and fines for offenders.
Read the Maryland Legislation.
Texas
ABA advocacy efforts then generated the Tray Loss and Prevention Law in the Texas legislature in 2019. This new effort built upon the Stop Theft of Plastics Products (STOPP) Initiative, which was pioneered by the Texas Retailers Association. H.B. 4584 applies criminal penalties to tray theft and supports civil recovery by prosecutors, effectively disincentivizing tray theft in the Lonestar State. ABA’s State Affairs Working Group was instrumental in guiding this legislation to success, addressing a problem estimated at causing $5 million annually in losses statewide.
Read more about the legislative victory in Texas.
ABA’s State Affairs Working Group
ABA hopes to introduce bills in other select state legislatures where impact and legislative appetite are high. ABA’s State Affairs Working Group is actively leveraging stakeholder feedback to best craft and target legislation for the reduction and elimination of tray loss affecting your business. We always welcome your feedback on how best to create meaningful solutions to the tray loss problem.
