The following legislative update has been provided by the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO).
State tobacco-related legislative bills that have been introduced in the past week are listed below alphabetically by state:
California: Assembly Bill 598 requires the Attorney General to maintain a list of tobacco product brand styles that lack a characterizing flavor. Senate Bill 395, which creates a new tax on retailers of electronic cigarettes and e-liquids of an unspecified percent of the gross receipts from the sale of the products, was introduced on February 11, 2021. Senate Bill 491 adds violations of restrictions on nitrous oxide to the list of reasons to deny a tobacco retailer license.
Connecticut: House Bill 6450 (Governor’s budget bill on public health) prohibits the sale of flavored ENDS and vapor products (includes menthol).
Florida: House Bill 987 (pre-filed) increases the legal age to purchase and possess tobacco and vapor products to 21 years of age.
Georgia: House Bill 394 increases the cigarette tax by $1.50 per pack, increases the OTP tax to 39 percent of wholesale (includes cigars, loose and smokeless tobacco) and changes the vapor tax to the OTP rate of 39 percent of wholesale.
Idaho: Senate Bill 1087 amends existing law to raise the legal age to possess and use tobacco products and electronic smoking devices to 21 years of age.
