PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – Rhode Island’s Senate president has introduced a bill to ban single-use plastic bags at checkout counters statewide.

Democratic Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, of North Providence, said Thursday that plastic pollution is dangerous to the ocean and marine life and contributes to climate change.

The Senate passed a bill in June to ban single-use plastic bags, but the effort stalled in the House.

The plastic bag ban is one of the first major pieces of legislation Ruggerio has introduced in the new legislative session, which began Tuesday.