ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A bill being introduced in the Florida House would stop cities from banning the use of plastic straws.

Restaurants like 2nd and Second in St. Petersburg made the switch before the city banned plastic straws, but once the ordinance is fully phased in later this year, all restaurants will have to abide.

That is, unless newly proposed House Bill 603 gains traction.

Rep. Anthony Sabatini, a Republican out of Lake County, introduced the legislation.

He said citizens should decide on plastic straws, not the government.

St. Petersburg City Councilwoman Gina Driscoll, the driving force behind St. Petersburg's straw ordinance, called the move counter-productive.

"We came up with a great ordinance that everyone seems to be getting on board with, so this new development is a bit frustrating,"

The bill doesn’t necessarily repeal ordinances already on the books, but it does prevent cities from enforcing them.

The bill would take effect July 1 if it passes.

But not so fast, Driscoll said.

"The same type of bill was filed a year ago in the state legislature, and it wasn't even heard in committee, so I'm not too worried," she said.

If bill does come to fruition, Driscoll hopes restaurants will stay the course, pushing paper and not plastic.

The new legislative session begins March 5.