Recent Law School graduate Amber Hillman says it's time for Massachusetts lawmakers to pass the updated “Bottle Bill,” which would mandate a 5-cent deposit on water, juice, and sports drink bottles — which, unlike their carbonated cousins, still end up in trash cans and landfills most of the time.

“A recent poll by MassINC showed more than 75 percent of Massachusetts residents are in favor of expanding the bottle bill to include non-carbonated beverages,” writes Hillman in a Rappaport Briefing commentary. "However, powerful interest groups have aligned themselves on each side of the issue – environmental groups and over 200 municipal governments support the bill, while lobbyists representing larger retailers in the Commonwealth oppose it."

The full text of her commentary, "The new and improved Bottle Bill: A promising legislative outlook," is available in the Rappaport Briefing, which offers a collection of student commentaries on issues confronting state and local government in Massachusetts, from utilities regulation to English-language learning. .

The briefing blog, created by the Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service at Suffolk University Law School, also presents news about Rappaport Center activities.

Hillman, a Rappaport fellow, received her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in May. Before attending law school, she had worked in both state and federal government and served as state director for John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. Hillman plans to follow her political passion and pursue a career in public policy or government