Other Policy
Reports
New factsheets on regulatory options for non-cigarette tobacco products
The Tobacco Control Legal Consortium has released new factsheets on regulatory options for non-cigarette tobacco products in response to the growing popularity of these products in the U.S. Topics include e-cigarettes, hookah and water pipes, dissolvable tobacco products, snus, and little cigars. The factsheets provide a brief overview of each product, their health risks, gaps in their regulation, and policy approaches that state and local governments might consider for controlling their use, pricing, or sale. Click on the links above to access the corresponding factsheets.
Tobacco control laws updated
The American Lung Association’s State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI) website has been updated to reflect most state tobacco control laws in effect as of January 1, 2013. This website is the regularly-updated online version of the annual SLATI report, which tracks state tobacco control laws. The SLATI website contains a comprehensive, up-to-date summary of tobacco control laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Click here to access the SLATI website.
"Board of Health Role" factsheet series
The National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) has released a factsheet series that addresses how local boards of health (BOH) can use their legal authority to address tobacco control issues. Each factsheet outlines policy topics accompanied by suggested action steps. Factsheet topics include: (1) Addressing New Tobacco Products, (2) Advocating for a Smoke-Free Air Policy, (3) Developing and Implementing a Smoke-Free Air Policy, (4) Enforcing a Smoke-Free Air Policy, and (5) Sustaining Effective Tobacco Control Policies. Click here for more information and to access the factsheets.
AAP has updated its Tobacco Prevention Policy Tool
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Richmond Center of Excellence has updated its Tobacco Prevention Policy Tool to include more accurate, timely information for tobacco prevention advocates. The interactive tool is broken out into five levels of influence: medical practices, school/child care settings, as well as community, state, and national-level interventions. The tool focuses on three major areas of intervention: prevention of secondhand smoke exposure, support for cessation services, and prevention of youth initiation of tobacco use. Click here to access this tool.
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State Policy
A look at 2013 tobacco-related legislation
The tobacco industry news outlet Convenience Store Petroleum (CSP) has published a summary of the tobacco-related laws introduced in state legislative sessions in 2013. According to this report, 21 states have introduced bills related to increasing or reducing the state excise tax on cigarettes and/or other tobacco products; two states introduced bills to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products; and twelve states have introduced bills related to the regulation of e-cigarettes. Click here to access more details regarding the specific states that introduced these bills.
Legislative update on new bills for 2013 session (CA)
A total of seven tobacco-related bills were introduced in the 2013 session of the California Legislature. These bills cover a variety of issues such as making all K-12 school campuses tobacco-free and prohibiting smoking in multifamily housing. The key deadlines for the 2013 legislative session are May 31, the deadline for bills to pass the full house they were introduced in and September 13, which is the end of legislative session and also the deadline for all bills to be passed and sent to the Governor. Click here for more information on these bills.
Mayor Bloomberg proposes strong new measures to win the fight against tobacco (NY)
New York City has been a leader in tobacco control policies, especially those designed to prevent tobacco use initiation among young people. Mayor Bloomberg has proposed new legislation that would make tobacco less affordable and accessible to youth by preventing tobacco companies from discounting tobacco; reducing evasion of cigarette taxes; and prohibiting large tobacco product displays in stores. These new propositions are evidence-based, and were created to reduce tobacco use among children. Click here to access the statement from Bloomberg’s office regarding this new legislation. Click here to access the statement from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids on this issue.
Oklahoma bill limits youth access to e-cigarettes (OK)
The Oklahoma Senate approved a bill that prevents youth from buying e-cigarettes and limits the tax imposed on the products. The new law prohibits anyone less than 18 years of age from purchasing e-cigarettes, and added a 5-cent tax on e-cigarettes with a maximum tax set at 10% of the cigarette tax rate in the state. According to one tobacco control advocate, the bill appears to be about regulating youth access to e-cigarettes, but in actuality sets a cap on taxes that could apply to tobacco products and other devices that deliver nicotine. Click here to read more. Click here track SB 802, which has been sent to the House.
Senate advances bill to let cities, counties ban smoking on their properties (OK)
The Oklahoma Senate approved a bill that allows cities and counties in Oklahoma to implement smoke-free air laws. This legislation would apply to public properties such as parks, libraries, baseball fields, and golf courses. If approved in the House, cities and counties will be able to make their own decisions regarding protecting residents from secondhand smoke. Click here to read more. Click here to track SB 501, which has been sent to the House Economic Development and Financial Services Committee for consideration.
Electronic cigarettes bill would ban sale to those under 18 in Rhode Island (RI)
New legislation proposed in Rhode Island by Democratic Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio would prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. Senate Bill 621 was created to aid in preventing youth under 18 years old from becoming addicted to nicotine via e-cigarettes. Click here to read more, or click here to check the status of this legislation.
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National
Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2013
U.S. Representative Bill Posey (R-Florida) introduced a bill that would exempt many cigars from the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Currently, the FDA does not have authority over cigars; however, it has declared its intent to assert its authority to regulate these products under the Tobacco Control Act. This bill is a reintroduction of a similar bill from last legislative session. It seeks to limit the FDA’s ability to establish important safety guidelines for cigars, which would allow cigar manufacturers and retailers to operate with little oversight. Click here to track HR 792, which has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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