A tobacco tax that was included in the budget for West Virginia was signed by Democratic Governor Earl Ray Tomblin. Over the last few weeks as the state looked at a possible shut down the tobacco tax became an on again off again debate. The new budget raises the OTP tax 71% from the existing 7%. The new tax of 12% will raise the cost of a cigar that has an MSRP of $10.00 to $10.60. […]
In West Virginia, Preston County has modified its existing smoking ban. While the old ban only prohibited smoking in restaurants, the county voted 4-1 to change that. Under the plan hotels, motels and bars are include. But the most shocking inclusion of the new ban is the governments intrusion into private clubs which now in some cases need to become smoke free. The measure was first reported by WBOY-12, a local television station.
Merry Christmas smokers of Charleston, West Virginia as the City Council have given you a lump of coal by banning smoking in all city parks with the Mayor casting the lone vote against such a measure. In addition to a ban on smoking in all city parks, the grounds of city community centers and Sunrise Carriage Trail will also be subjected to the new ordinance. Smokers will be asked to put out their tobacco by the […]
In 2015 as reported by The Cigar Authority the state of West Virginia had two proposals to raise the OTP tax which affects how cigars are taxed. The initial proposal suggested a raise from 7% to 10.5%. However, in late February bi-partisan bill H.B. 2953 was introduced that suggested taxing OTP products at the rate of 39 percent. The 2015 yearly session closed with the tobacco tax not seeing a vote and now a published report by […]
Earlier this year the state of West Virginia proposed a tax on other tobacco products (OTP), which includes cigars at a rate of 10.5 percent. This would have been an increase from the current 7 percent as we reported on The Cigar Authority podcast. However, in late February Representatives Allen V. Evans-R, Tom Fast-R, Barbara Evans Fleischauer-D, Mike Pushkin-D and Ruth Rowan-R introduced H.B. 2953 which would tax OTP products at the rate of 39 percent. The […]
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 […]
On Monday, October 6, 2014 the Brooke Country Board of Health will be holding a public hearing on a proposal that wouldl ban smoking in all business, bars, restaurants and video lottery parlors. I t will also include outdoor spaces such as parks and festivals. The hearing which will be held at 6pm in the courtroom of the Brooke County Courthouse in Wellburg. After both sides of the aisle get their said a final decision […]