Interesting legislative news posted on over the past few days from the National Association of Tobacco Outlets, Inc. (NATO)*. Below are some highlights of activity on state tobacco bills that pertain to the brothers & sisters of the leaf.
Legislative Action on State Tobacco Bills Recent action that has taken place on tobacco-related bills pending in state legislatures:
Connecticut: Senate Bill 164, which raises the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21—exempts any person who is 18 or older prior to October 1, 2018, was “held” by the Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding on April 24, 2018.
Illinois: Senate Bill 2332, which raises the minimum legal sales age and the age to purchase, use or possess tobacco products from 18 to 21 and amends the existing free sampling provision by only permitting free samples of smokeless tobacco products in adult-only establishments, passed the Senate on April 25.
Newly Introduced State Tobacco Bills
New York: Assembly Bill 10434 requires all online sellers of tobacco products to require a recipient, at the delivery address upon delivery, to demonstrate that the recipient is at least twenty-one years of age by providing a valid form of photographic identification; requires a recipient to sign an electronic or paper form or other acknowledgement of receipt as approved. Assembly Bill 10450 requires that online purchasers of tobacco products digitally upload a government-issued identification for verification of age, and requires sellers to include the words TOBACCO PRODUCT on the purchaser's billing statement for online sales.
*NATO is a national trade association organized to enhance the common business interests of all tobacco retailers and to monitor and assist members in responding to tobacco-related legislation on the local, state and federal levels.