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

Alaska: House Bill 155, which repeals the discount on cigarette tax stamps provided as compensation for affixing the stamps to packages, and also repeals the amount that may be deducted from the tobacco excise tax to cover the expense of accounting and filing for the monthly tax return, passed the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on April 6th by a vote of 4-0 and moved to the Senate Finance Committee. HB155 is a carryover bill that passed the House during the 2015 legislative session.

California: Assembly Bill 1901, which makes it illegal for non-distributors to possess unaffixed cigarette tax stamps, passed the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization on April 6, 2016. Senate Bill 977, was amended on April 4, 2016 and now prohibits smoking within 25 feet of playgrounds and tot lots, prohibits the use of any tobacco product, including smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes, within 250 feet of a youth sports event, and allows local jurisdictions to adopt stricter measures.

Idaho: House Bill 498, which requires any retailer of electronic cigarettes to obtain a tobacco permit to sell or distribute electronic cigarettes, requires a sign to be visible to the customer at every licensed location stating that the sale of electronic cigarettes to persons under the age of 18 years is prohibited, and prohibits employees who are minors to sell or distribute electronic cigarettes, failed due to adjournment.

Vermont: House Bill 93, which was amended to increase the purchase age to 21, (except for active military personnel), to increase the cigarette and little cigar tax by $.39 per pack, and to raise the tax on other tobacco products by $.32 per ounce, all over a three year period, passed the House on April 6, 2016.