Currently in the Health & Human Services committee is bill S.B. 648 which would raise the minimum purchase of tobacco in the state of Texas from 18 to 19. The bill was introduced by Juan Hinojosa-D, Joan Huffman-R and Carlos Uresti-D. If passed selling to those under 19 would result in a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of $500.00. It would also prohibit those under 19 from entering a humidor in the state. Texas […]
On Tuesday, the House Committee on Judiciary in the state of Hawaii advanced bill HB 385. This bill would raise the legal smoking and purchase age to 21 on the islands. According to the coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii they feel this measure is necessary to protect younger generations. Could you imagine how the men and women who died during Pearl Harbor would feel about this measure. How their sacrifices to our great nation would […]
If at first you don’t succeed try again has become the mantra in St. Joseph, Missouri. A petition to repeal the city-wide smoking ban failed the first time when it was determined that 809 signatures were invalid as they were not registered voters. This time around, those signatures have been replaced with 855 new signatures in an attempt to have the needed 2,568 signature in order for the City Council to consider the repeal. County […]
There are a handful of states where cigars aren’t tax and one of those states, Pennsylvania is in danger of falling by the wayside. Democrat Governor Tom Wolf’ in his proposed $30 billion state spending plan would tax cigars at 40% of the wholesale value. If the spending plan passes as is, it would go into effect on October 1st, and would result in Pennsylvania having a higher tax than its neighboring states. According to […]
So much for living free. The New Hampshire state motto is in jeopardy this week as lawmakers will hear arguments later today on a bill that would ban smoking in cars if a passenger is under the age of 18. The bills sponsor is Democrat David Watters from Barrington, Dover, Rollinsford, and Somersworth. If Senate Bill 162 were to pass, it would go into effect in 120 days and those guilty of violating it would be […]
1/19/2015: The City Council of Tybee Island in Georgia is moving forward with a potential smoking ban what will prohibit smokers from lighting up on the beach. City Councilman, Rob Callahan proposed the measure after the island completed sand placements on the beaches. The logistics of enforcement are an issue according to Councilwoman Wanda Boyd who said that the ban would be an enforcement nightmare. However, Councilman Callahan believes the measure can be enforced by non-smokers. […]
On Tuesday, the Community Services Committee of the Westchester County Board of Legislators voted in favor of raising the smoking age in the county from 18 to 21. The move was voted on after hearing from the American Lung Association and American Cancer Society. According to Committee Chairwoman Alfreda Williams who supports the measure, “Twenty-one years of age is still a youthful age and this whole idea is to encourage healthy habits within our young people […]
The West Virginia Senate voted on Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 109, which would allow certain establishments to become exempt from indoor smoking bans if they obtain permission from their country commission. The bill passed 22-12 led by Senator Craig Blair, a Republican from Berkeley who swayed the chamber’s opinion when he pointed out that several members of the Senate were smokers. The two most outspoken against the proposal were 2 democrats, Mike Woeful and […]
Democrat Senator William Tong of Connecticut wants to make it illegal for you to continue smoking that cigar you might have lit up in your car while waiting for the train. According to IPCPR, a bill was introduced in the January session and is now set for a hearing today. Bill No. 5941 seems to amend section 19a-342 of the general statute to prohibit smoking on platforms and at rail stations. Connecticut is home to […]
In the city of El Paso, Texas the Housing Authority is seeking to make all of the public housing smoke-free according to a new policy adopted by Authority Commissioners. The housing units in El Paso are in the process of being converted to Rental Assistance Demonstration, aka RAD during a renovation project which will cost $600 million dollars. In order to live in these housing units the tenants must sign a provision in their lease […]