Dive summary:

• In a recent vote, the California Senate did not reach enough votes to enact a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags, which would have gone into effect January 2015.
• The bill needed 21 votes to pass but was only able to pick up 18 with four senators not voting.
• About 70 governments in the state have enacted bag bans so far; some argue the switch is easier on businesses if the ban is statewide instead of just in individual cities.

From the article:

Senate Bill 405 failed to top the 21-vote threshold needed for passage, with senators voting in favor of the measure 18-17. Four senators did not cast votes. The bill will be allowed to be reconsidered, meaning it could be back before a Senate committee or the Senate floor.

Senate Bill 405 would have outlawed grocery stores and large retailers from giving customers single-use plastic bags at checkout starting Jan. 1, 2015. The ban would have been expanded to smaller stores on Jan. 1, 2016. ...