The following is a summary of recent action that has taken place on tobacco-related bills pending in state legislatures:

California: Assembly Bill 1901, which makes it illegal for non-distributors to possess unaffixed cigarette tax stamps, passed the Assembly Committee on Appropriations on April 27, 2016. Senate Bill 1470, which, for purposes of the tobacco store exception to the self-service display ban, revises the definition to include only those stores that primarily sell tobacco products and paraphernalia, passed Senate Appropriations Committee on Appropriations Committee on April 25, 2016.

Connecticut: House Bill 5624, which defines “person” for the purposes of licensure of e-cigarette sellers and manufacturers and removes the requirement that background checks be conducted prior to licensure, reported with substitute from the Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding on March 31, 2016.

Nebraska: The following bills failed due to adjournment: Legislative Bill 727 (a tax of 1% on each sale of tobacco for all individuals who hold a cigar shop license); Legislative Bill 762 (an increase in the tax on cigars to 22% of the purchase price); Legislative Bill 1013 (an increase of the tax on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack and an increase in the tax on OTP from 20% to 31%); and Legislative Bill 1058 (included cigars in the list of products that are prohibited from being sold to a minor).

Washington: Senate Bill 6328, which prohibits the sale of vapor products to minors and also requires all retailers of vapor products to be licensed by the state (annual fee of $175.00 for each place of business), was signed by the Governor on April 19, 2016. House Bill 2313 and Senate Bill 6157, both of which would have increased the legal purchase age from 18 to 21 years of age, failed due to adjournment. House Bill 2969, which would have imposed a tax on vapor products at 45% of the taxable sales price, failed due to adjournment.

Rhode Island: House Bill 7373, which modifies the definition of little cigars to 4.5 pounds per thousand, requires little cigars be sold in packs of 20 or more and taxes little cigars as cigarettes, is scheduled for a public hearing on May 3, 2016. House Bill 7733, which requires a 15% minimum mark-up be added to the total cost of cigarettes sold by retailers, is scheduled for a public hearing on May 3, 2016. House Bill 7737, which increases the tobacco purchase age to 21 (includes nicotine-delivery systems), is scheduled for a public hearing on May 3, 2016.

Vermont: House Bill 171, which prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes in the same places where the use of lighted tobacco products is banned and prohibits electronic cigarette displays on store counters, passed the House and Senate on concurrence on April 26, 2016. House Bill 872, which requires any retailer of tobacco substitutes (e-cigarettes, delivery devices, etc.) to obtain a tobacco substitute endorsement from the Department of Liquor Control by requiring a fee of $50, also raises the annual fee for tobacco licensing or renewal from $100 to $110, passed the Senate as amended, failed concurrence in the House and was referred to a conference committee April 26, 2016.