News

On January 18 2023, the House Finance Committee voted 19-2 to approve and advance Delegate Lee Ware's HB 1417 (Cigar Tax Cap).

As VA Cigar Shops across the commonwealth face unprecedented challenges to survive the national pandemic, Governor Northam has decided to pile on and target VA Cigar Shops by refusing to remove a 100% cigar and pipe tobacco tax increase in his state budget. We have asked, we have offered solutions, but we are told no. We need everyone to contact the Governor now. Tell him to stop attacking VA cigar shops. Tell him no to [...]

On Friday, a House Finance Subcommittee decided to carry over and refer to a study HB 1283. This bill put restrictions in place for cigar shop locations, mandatory ABC inspections, licensing fees and significant financial penalties. No actions will take place on this bill until 2021.

On Friday, a House Finance Subcommittee decided to carry over and refer to a study HB 93 and HB 1119. Both of these bills broadly defined a flavor tobacco product, which would include most premium cigars and pipe tobacco. This action delays these bills from being considered until 2021 and brings relief to cigar retailers across the Commonwealth.

On Friday, a House Finance Subcommittee decided to carry over HB 1120 to the next year and refer the bill to a study. This action delays activity on this bill until 2021 and brings relief to cigar retailers across Virginia.

On tuesday, SB 852 was heard in a Senate Finance Subcommittee. The bill was passed by indefinitely, killing it for the rest of the session. Thank you Advantus Strategies LLC, Cigar Rights of America and the Premium Cigar Association along with all other team members for being so active and supportive to protect premium cigars and pipe tobacco.

This measure provides that tobacco products, defined in the bill, would be subject to tax at rates of $1.80 per pack of cigarettes or 39 percent of the wholesale price for all other tobacco products. Specifically, current imposes taxes of $0.30 per pack of cigarettes, 10 percent of the wholesale price of certain tobacco products, and various weight-based rates that apply to moist snuff and loose leaf tobacco. The bill broadens the definition of "tobacco [...]

This measure bans flavored tobacco products and creates civil penalties. Specifically, this measure bans the sale or distribution of flavored "tobacco products", which means a cigarette or an alternative nicotine product, a heated tobacco product, liquid nicotine, loose leaf tobacco, moist snuff, nicotine vapor product, or a tobacco product that contains a constituent that imparts a characterizing flavor.This measure creates civil penalties of $1,000 for a first offense and $5,000 for a second or subsequent [...]

This measure makes changes to the definitions of "tobacco product" and "cigarette" and changes their taxation rates, defines "electronic smoking device", imposes taxes on "electronic smoking devices", and allows localities to tax cigarettes. Tobacco products, defined in the bill, would be subject to tax at rates of $1.80 per pack of cigarettes or 39 percent of the wholesale price for all other tobacco products. Current law imposes taxes of $0.30 per pack of cigarettes, 10 [...]

This measure would prohibit the sale, distribution, offering for sale or distribution, or causing the sale or distribution of flavored tobacco products. Specifically, this measure provides that no person, tobacco retail establishment, or manufacturer shall sell, distribute, offer to sell or distribute, or cause to be sold or distributed in any tobacco retail establishment, online, or through other means to any consumer in the Commonwealth any flavored tobacco product. No person, tobacco retail establishment, or [...]