The House passed a bill Thursday banning plastic bags for large retailers on the Outer Banks, sending the legislation wafting back over to the Senate.

The bill, a pet project of Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, passed by a 78 to 41 vote, despite Republican criticism that it was unconstitutional. The Senate already passed the bill, but senators now will have to agree to a minor change made in the House.

Advocates argue that the bill affects only the Outer Banks and is aimed at reducing the unsightly plastic totes frequently seen blowing across the picturesque -- and tourist-revenue-generating -- beaches. Rep. Paul Stam, of Apex and House Republican leader, argued Thursday that the constitution prohibits a local-oriented bill that affects broader trade and public health.

The only other jurisdiction in the nation that has passed such a ban is San Francisco. China also has banned the bags.

The House Commerce Committee approved a bill banning plastic bags among large retailers on the Outer Banks.

Lawmakers adjusted the bill at the request of the N.C. Retail Merchants Association, who no longer oppose it. The bill already allowed retailers to switch to paper bags made from recycled material if they also offered a refund equal to the cost of paper bags to customers who use their own reusable bags. The bill's goal is to get stores and customers to switch to reusable bags, such as the cloth totes sold in grocery stores.

The new version of the bill allows retailers to offer coupons or loyalty card reward points instead of a cash refund.

The bill, strongly backed by Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, now goes to the House floor.

The Outer Banks plastic bag ban cleared another hurdle Tuesday as a House committee approved it but raised a critical question: How will dog owners pick up poop?

The House environment and natural resources committee overwhelmingly passed the bill, which would affect large retailers in Dare, Currituck and Hyde counties. Since it passed the Senate last month, the bill has been modified to include only the barrier island portions of those counties.

Advocates reiterated the need to keep the tourism-dependant seashore clear of the eyesores of wafting bags. Plastic bag manufacturers cautioned that their products require less energy to produce and are reused by consumers for a host of purposes, including, as Rep. Pat McElraft, a Careteret County Republican, noted, for cleaning up after dogs.

Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, a Democrat from Manteo, has made the bill a legislative priority and asked senators to encourage their House counterparts on the committee to pass the legislation. Rep. Lucy Allen, a Franklin County Democrat and committee chair, refused to discuss any contact she received from the Senate.