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

California: Assembly Bill 1373, which exempts certain outdoor advertising from the Outdoor Advertising Act under certain conditions, one of which is that the advertising does not include tobacco-related products, amended to add an emergency provision and re-referred to Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, which had been inactive since 2015, was revived on June 16, 2016 and set for hearing.

Louisiana: House Bill 217 was signed by the Governor, requiring the stamping of cigarettes prior to selling instead of immediately upon receipt; removing the exception for bonded interstate tobacco dealers and providing an exception for a dealer holding a valid stamping agent designation; and providing that the dealer may sell cigarettes into another state, without the stamp, if the other state does not require it.

New Hampshire: House Bill 1208, which changes several definitions to the tobacco tax laws, including the definition of a premium cigar by removing the criteria that cigars wholesale for $2.00 or more, received a vote in the House that sustained the Governor’s veto on June 16, 2016.

New York: Assembly Bill 5955B, which includes the use of electronic cigarettes in the state smoking ban, passed the Assembly on June 15, 2016.

Rhode Island: House Bill 7664, which prohibits the use of electronic nicotine-delivery systems in enclosed public places and places of employment, passed the House on June 17, 2016. Senate Bill 2193, 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, passed the Senate on June 18, 2016.