# Nebraska AG leads GOP lawsuit against California plastic packaging law **Published:** 2026-06-23T21:34:41.000Z **Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/23/repub/nebraska-ag-leads-17-gop-attorneys-general-suing-california-over-single-use-plastics-law/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/nebraska-ag-leads-gop-lawsuit-against-california-plastic-packaging-law Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers is leading a coalition of 17 Republican state attorneys general and a national business group in challenging California's sweeping plastic packaging law, arguing the legislation improperly extends the state's regulatory authority across state lines and will drive up consumer costs nationwide. Filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, the lawsuit targets the state's Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, a [landmark environmental regulation that took effect May 1](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/23/repub/nebraska-ag-leads-17-gop-attorneys-general-suing-california-over-single-use-plastics-law/). The law requires plastic packaging producers to reduce single-use plastic by 25 percent and ensure all packaging is recyclable or compostable by 2032. The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, the sole business plaintiff, joined the states in the legal challenge. The attorneys general argue that California has unconstitutionally delegated regulatory power to the Circular Action Alliance, a nonprofit organization appointed to develop and implement the law. "Once again, California is trying to enact a policy that negatively impacts the rest of the country," Hilgers said in a statement. "If California goes unchecked, consumers will be forced to pay more for basic necessities. Nebraska is continuing to fight for consumers against California's overreach." The plaintiffs contend the law violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution by interfering with interstate commerce. They argue the legislation will cause "steep and persistent price increases" on everyday products for consumers outside California, disproportionately affecting low-income and vulnerable populations. Joining Hilgers in the lawsuit are attorneys general from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. The lawsuit comes as California's plastic law faces legal pressure from multiple angles. [Environmental advocacy groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, have also sued California this month](https://calmatters.org/environment/2026/05/plastic-recycling-california-sb54-waste/), alleging the regulations do not go far enough to reduce plastic packaging and contain loopholes for producers. The Circular Action Alliance disputes the lawsuit's characterization of its role. "We continue to implement SB 54 consistent with state law and regulatory oversight," a spokesperson said, adding that the organization remains committed to developing "an effective, practical" program. The dispute reflects broader tensions over how states should regulate consumer products in an interconnected national marketplace. The case raises questions about whether state environmental laws can impose compliance obligations on businesses across state lines to protect local environmental interests. ## Sources - [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/23/repub/nebraska-ag-leads-17-gop-attorneys-general-suing-california-over-single-use-plastics-law/) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/23/repub/nebraska-ag-leads-17-gop-attorneys-general-suing-california-over-single-use-plastics-law/.