Representatives P. Anderson (D-41), Guggisberg (D-11), Hager (D-21), J. Nelson (D-14), Schneider (D-21) and Senator Davison (R-41) have introduced bill HB 1236. The bill seeks to raise the tobacco purchase age from 18 to 19 years old. The bill calls to amend and reenact sections 12.1-31-03, 12.1-31-03.1, and 51-32-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the prohibition of an individual under nineteen years of age from purchasing and using tobacco products; and to […]
Senator Oley Larson (R-Minot) has introduced a bill in the North Dakota Legislator that would allow cigar smoking in cigar bars, according to a report by Prairie Broadcasting System. The bill would only allow the smoking of cigars if of 10 percent or more of the gross annual income is generated from the sale of cigars. According to the report, the bill has been introduced on behalf of a constituent of Minot. The Senator went […]
Each week we share some of the news that comes across our desk about upcoming legislation.. This week we have stories from Alaska, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Alaska – On Wednesday the state moved closer to becoming the thirty-first state with a statewide ban on smoking in public places, as the Senate approved S.B. 1, 15-5. The bill which is sponsored by Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, would render […]
On Monday, The Grand Forks Park Board gave its first approval to a ban on smoking at all park district property and smokeless tobacco to those same properties albeit with a few exceptions. The motion to approve the ban took place after an hour debate and the failed of a motion that would have resulted in ban of all tobacco use. The current Grand Forks city code currently prohibits smoking but not chewing tobacco at […]
There were two bills in North Dakota that sought to the raise tobacco taxes. The proposals would have seen cigars taxed at 50% instead of the current 28%. Last week, the House of Representatives said no to that proposal by voting it down, and the Senate proposal was met with a similar response this week failing with a vote of 30-17. The leader against the measure was Republican Kelly Armstrong. North Dakota is home to 739,000 […]
Since 1993 tobacco retailers in the state of North Dakota has been battling a tobacco tax increase with success. It also appears that this year the increase proposed by Republican Jon Nelson of Rugby will not pass as well. The North Dakota House Finance and Taxation Committee has voted 12-2 to give the bill a do not pass recommendation. Later this week the full house will decide if they wish to follow that recommendation. North […]
The Park Board in Fargo, North Dakota has approved expanding the existing smoking ban on park district properties. There are now a total of 16 areas where smoking is prohibited and a handful where smoking is allowed most of the time. According to Park District spokesman Clay Whittelesey, the commissioners felt since smoking is legal they didn’t want a complete ban. These areas include open area’s and trails. It also includes all park district golf […]