The state of Maine has seen House Bill LD 1028 introduced that seeks to raise the tobacco tax on cigars 305%. In the state of Maine cigars are currently taxed at a rate of 20% of the wholesale price, the new proposal would change that to 81%. Under the new bill a cigar with an MSRP of $10.00 which currently retails in Maine at $12.00 would climb to an insane $18.10. The bill is sponsored […]
While the Louisiana legislative branch won’t meet again until Monday April 8th, Republican State Representative Frank Hoffman from District 15 has filed House Bill 38. The bill which is expected to be taken up in that session seeks to raise the tobacco purchase age in the state to 21. The bill has been provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice. HB38 on Scribd
It’s that time of year when information about TAA releases begin to emerge. The Tobacconist Association of America is a group of retailers and manufacturers that gather each year in the early Spring. At the mini-trade show/networking event about a dozen or so exclusive releases are unveiled and one of the most notable releases each year comes from Crowned Heads. According to an email from Miguel Schoedel, this year Crowned Heads is once again teaming […]
The state of Texas has seen the proposal of HB 749 which would raise the tobacco possession age to 21 and would also require retailers to request ID from anyone under 30 years of age. The bill currently has nine sponsors including Rep. John Zerwas (R-28), Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-141), Rep. J.D. Sheffield (R-59), Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-103), Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-130). Rep. Gina Calanni (D-132), Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-148), Rep. Eddie Lucio III (D-38) […]
The state of Delaware has joined the ranks of states looking to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21. SB25 would restrictsaccess to tobacco products and tobacco substitutes to individuals under age 21 by doing all of the following: 1. Prohibits sales of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes to individuals who are under 21. 2. Imposes a civil penalty for sales to individuals between the ages of 18 and 21. 3. Repeals the ability of a […]
In January 2019 a bill was proposed in the New Hampshire Legislature by Representative Timothy Horrigan (D-Strafford) that sought to create a tax on premium cigars at the rate of 65.03 percent of the wholesale price. On the morning of February 27, 2019 a voice vote was held in the New Hampshire Senate where House Bill 438 was defeated 293-58. All 53 votes in favor of the tax were made by Democrat. A full list of […]
The state of Tennessee has seen a bill introduced by State Senator Rosalind Kurita (I-22) that would raise the tobacco age in the state from 18 to 21. In addition the new bill would make tobacco possession for those under 21 a Class C Misdemeanor. In the state, a Class C misdemeanor is punishable by up to 30 days in jail and up to a $50 fine. In an article that appeared in the MTSU […]
In the land of Altria, the state of Virginia a movement began to raise the tobacco purchase age only a month ago. The measure came as no surprise to many with their ear to the ground in the tobacco industry as one of the biggest tobacco companies actually is part of the Tobacco 21 movement. The bill raced through the legislative bodies where HB 2478 passed in the House of Delagates by a 62-32 vote […]
Oklahoma has seen the introduction of a bill by the State Senate President Harold Wright (R-57) that would modify the Oklahoma Workplace Clean Air Act and remove an exemption for cigar smoking at cigar bars and cigar retailers in the Sooner State. The bill which was referred to the Public Health Committee exited with the recommendation to pass by a 7-3 vote. Name Yea Nay NV Absent Rep. Chad Caldwell [R] X Rep. Regina Goodwin [D] […]
In the state of Arkansas Representative Lee Johnson (R-75) has introduced a bill that would raise the tobacco purchase age to 21 in the state. House Bill 1519 has picked up 17 sponsors including Representatives Fred Allen (D-30), Mary Bentley (R-73), Harlan Breaux (R-97) , Joe Cloud (R-71), Bruce Coleman (R-81), Bruce Cozart (R-24), Brian S. Evans (R-43), David Hillman (R-13), Jasen Kelly (R-28), Fredrick J. Love (D-29), Stephen Magie (D-72), Jay Richardson (D-78), Stu Smith […]