ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Florida bill is taking aim at paper straws.

A bill has been introduced in both the House and Senate that would require jurisdictions with straw laws to allow options other than paper.

The bill claims that paper straws are harmful to the environment and human health.

What You Need To Know

A Florida bill that’s been introduced would require jurisdictions with straw laws to allow options other than paper

The city of St. Petersburg has already banned single use plastic straws

If the bill passes, St. Petersburg Councilwoman Gina Driscoll said the city would add an amendment for paper straws to its plastic straw ban

Many businesses in downtown St. Petersburg are already using paper and plastic straw alternatives

The city of St. Petersburg has already banned single use plastic straws. Many businesses in downtown St. Petersburg are already using straws made of different materials.

The Wooden Rooster on 2nd Avenue is knowns for its crepes. If you want a drink with your crepe, the straw options have changed over the years. The city of St. Petersburg prohibited plastic ones in 2018, so the Wooden Rooster switched to paper. But when customers didn’t like them, they switched to green biodegradable straws.

“Paper straws were a big thing. They (customers) were like, ‘Please tell me that you have regular straws.’ We have the biodegradable straws, which they’re happy with because they’re not the flimsy paper, or soggy paper straws,” said Melissa Phillips, general manager of The Wooden Rooster. 

A Florida bill was introduced that would require jurisdictions with straw laws to allow options other than paper. The bill said if a local government enacts a straw law, it must require that they’re renewable, home compostable, industrial compostable and marine biodegradable.

“Our planet is important, the sea animals are important, specifically the turtles. I’m definitely not opposed to that,” Phillips said.

A study published in the journal “Food Additives and Contaminants” said out of five straw materials, paper had the most forever chemicals known as PFAS.

“The more we learn about PFAS chemicals, the more we want to ensure that we’re minimizing the exposure that humans have to that,” said St. Petersburg 6th District Councilwoman Gina Driscoll.

If the bill passes, Driscoll said the city would add an amendment to its single use plastic prohibition to include paper straws.

“We’ve got such a wonderful waterfront, our marine life is sacred to us and being a healthy community is extremely important. So, this could be really good news for a city like St. Petersburg,” Driscoll said.

As for The Wooden Rooster, they’ve already made the change not only for straws, but for cups too.

“It’s important to do our part,” Phillips said.

The Florida legislative session starts on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.

In 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning federal use of paper straws, meaning that paper straws can’t be served in federal buildings.