Legislation

UPDATE SB 852: Passed by indefinitely, killed for the rest of the session.

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.

VA ALERT! HB 1120: Tobacco products; tax on all tobacco products, penalties.

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 [...]

VA ALERT! HB 93: Flavored tobacco products; sale or distribution prohibited, civil penalty.

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 [...]

VA ALERT! SB 852:Tobacco products; tax on all tobacco products, penalties.

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 [...]

VA ALERT! HB 1119 Flavored tobacco products; sale prohibited, civil penalty.

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 [...]

VA ALERT! HB 1283 Tobacco products retailers; registration, purchase, possession, and sale of products, penalties.

This measure requires licensing to sell tobacco products at retail, require the purchaser be 21 year old, establishes penalties for selling to an individual young than 21, bans online sales of tobacco products, and amends the definition of tobacco products to include "nicotine vapor products" and "alternative nicotine vapor products". Specifically, this measure prohibits any person from selling any tobacco product at retail: (i) without first obtaining a permit from the Department of Taxation; and [...]

HB 1541 needs your support! Call VA Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee!

Thank you to everyone that has supported the efforts to have HB 1541 successfully approved by the VA House of Delegates.  Congratulations! We now move onto the next step and we need all cigar fans to call their VA Senators and to urge committee members to approve HB 1541 on Friday, February 23rd during the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee meeting.  Members of this committee are: Reeves (Chairman), Hanger, Wagner, Locke, McDougle, Black, Favola, [...]

HB 2220 Moves to VA Senate Floor; Call Today!

Thank you to all cigar retailers and aficionados who contacted the Virginia Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee regarding House Bill 2220, which establishes a mixed beverage retail cigar shop license.  This license will permit qualified tobacconists to serve wine, beer, or mixed beverages for on-premise consumption.  Your outreach was a success and the bill has passed committee.  But it is not over yet, we need your continued help. The full Senate will vote on [...]

By |February 18th, 2017|Legislation, News|0 Comments

May 29: Send your personal letter to the FDA regarding product sampling!

This is the third in a series of action alerts from the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) regarding the proposed deeming regulations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on tobacco products. This week’s focus is on product sampling. Click here: SAMPLE LETTER to access a sample letter to use as a guideline to prepare your personal response to FDA’s deeming regulations. The more personalized comments, data, and information you can [...]