SMOKESHOP 06/00 - Legislation Update

April/
May 2000

Legislation, Regulations, & Initiatives...
Highlights of new legislation that has been introduced.

Alabama

H.737 Would increase excise tax in Chamber County by 10 cents per pack.

H.798 Model Statute Legislation.

H.838 Would require that tobacco permit fee of $100 be paid to the "Alcoholic Beverage Control Board."

H.848 Would authorize the levy of an additional excise tax of 8 cents per pack in Baldwin. County.

California

A.2426 Would impose a misdemeanor for anyone who sells, distributes, or imports bidis.

Florida

S.434 Would require retailers to keep all tobacco and related products behind the counter or similar area prohibited to minors.

S.1526 Gray Market Legislation.

H.555 Would require retailers to keep all tobacco and related products behind the counter or similar area prohibited to minors.

Hawaii

S.2764 Would require individuals, businesses selling or distributing tobacco to register specific business and operation information with the Attorney General's Office.

Idaho

H.609 Would apply weight-based taxes, rather than an ad valorem to all moist snuff tobacco.

H.693 Gray Market Legislation.

Illinois

H.4369 Prohibits sale of bidis.

Iowa

S.2079 Gray Market Legislation.

S.2366 Would require use of driver's license number to purchase cigarettes.

H.2548 Would impose an excise tax on snuff at the rate of 42 cents per ounce.

Kentucky

H.812 Would impose excise tax of 3 cents per ounce on other tobacco products.

H.1031 Would impose an excise tax of one cent for every 20 papers.

Louisiana

H.17 Would authorize parish governing authorities to increase the tax on cigarette papers from $1.25 per pack to $2.50 at the retail sale.

H.51 Would increase excise tax by 40 cents per pack.

H.52 Would levy an excise tax on tobacco accessories at the rate of 99% of the price charged for the purchase of tobacco accessories.

H.56 Would increase excise tax by 40 cents per pack.

Maryland

S.6 Prohibits sale of cigarettes in packages less than 20 cigarettes.

H.95 Requires Comptroller to investigate anyone applying for or renewing a tobacco license for fitness to receive the license. Final decisions left to the discretion of the Comptroller.

H.1387 Would authorize Howard County to regulate the sale of cigarettes or other tobacco products.

Massachusetts

S.2157 Model Statute Legislation.

Michigan

H.5535 Would prohibit purchase of tobacco by minors, impose a misdemeanor, and a fine $50.

H.5645 Would prohibit smoking in the public area food service establishments.

Minnesota

H.3851 Would direct the State Fire Marshall to adopt rules for fire retardant standards for cigarettes.

S.3543 Would direct the State Fire Marshall to adopt rules for fire retardant standards for cigarettes.

Mississippi

H.1507 Gray Market Legislation.

H.1532 Would be an absolute affirmative defense to require driver's license from those under age 18.

New Mexico

H.266 Gray Market Legislation - Approved.

S.34a Would require person placing ads promoting sale of tobacco to also place ads promoting the cessation of the use of tobacco. New York

New York

S.6729 Prohibits sale the herbal cigarettes to minors.

S.6771 Would direct the Office of Fire Prevention and Safety to establish safety standards for cigarettes and little cigars.

S.7090 Would provide for cigarette manufacturer liability relating to the cost of smoking-related fires.

S.7297 Would increase penalties for possession or sale of unstamped cigarettes.

A.9696 Would require state cigarette excise tax stamps to be 2x2 inches.

A.9699 Would restrict sales of Internet cigarette sales to include tax collection and documentation.

A.9863 Would prohibit sale of herbal cigarettes.

Oklahoma

H.1848 Would prohibit packages containing less than 20 cigarettes.

S.J.R.20 Would increase excise tax by 27 cents per pack.

S.339 Model Statute Legislation

Pennsylvania

S.1408 Would increase cigarette excise tax by 49 cents per pack.

Rhode Island

S.2776 Would prohibit smoking tobacco products in any public place open to those under age 18.

S.2575 Would strengthen laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors through unannounced compliance checks on over-the-counter, mail-order, and vending machine sales.

S.2752 Would increase markup price on cigarettes from 6% to 12% for retailers, 2% to 3% for wholesalers.

South Dakota

S.136 Gray Market Legislation - Approved.

Vermont

H.662 Prohibits sale of bidis.

H.663 Prohibits the sale of cigarettes in packages of less than 20.

West Virginia

H.4504 Increases cigarette excise tax by 33 cents, from 17 to 50 cents.

Wisconsin

A.898 Gray Market Legislation.

United States

S.2125 Would replace the small health warning labels on the sides of packages with larger labels on the front and back.

SMOKESHOP - June 2000