Louisiana Senate Finance Cmte approves $.05/ml tax on e-liquid, full Senate vote today

[Bill Godshall]

The Louisiana Senate Finance Cmte amended a cigarette tax bill (HB 119) to further increase the cigarette tax to $1/pack, and (at request of Reynolds) to also impose a $.05/ml tax on e-liquid (i.e. $1.50 tax on a 30ml bottle); Cmte approves the bill, full Senate vote scheduled today.
http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=954105
http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=942382
Bill Info - HB119

CASAA Call to Action urges Louisiana vapers to oppose e-liquid tax in HB 119
CASAA: Louisiana Call to Action! Take action to oppose a new tax on vapor products (HB 119).


It appears that Reynolds' lobbyists will try amending cigarette tax hike bills (that are going to pass) to also tax e-liquid by the ml.

 

[Bill Godshall]

The Louisiana Senate approved HB 119 with a 31-8 vote.
The bill has been sent back to the House, which passed HB 119 a month ago with a lower cig tax hike (from $.36 to $.68) and no tax on vapor products.

Louisiana vapers and vape shops should urge their State Reps to reject the changes made by the Senate to HB 119.

If the House rejects the Senate approved version, a conference committee would be established of several Reps and several Senators to negotiate and approve a compromise.

 

[JustJulie]

(Update - 06.10.15)

URGENT!​

The Louisiana Legislature is about to take its final steps on, HB 119, a bill that would impose an unnecessary and counterproductive tax on vapor products.

There is still time to stop it!​

In the next 24 hours, a conference committee made up of a total of six members from the House and Senate will meet to decide, among other things, whether to keep or remove (or possibly even increase!) the vapor products tax.

Even if you have already sent an email to your legislator, please send a second email to ensure that they know that this important hearing is happening.

Oppose HB 119 - Send an Email

___________________________________________​

If you live in one of the following districts which is represented by a member of the conference committee, please take action HERE.

Rep. Lance Harris (H - 25) - Send an Email

Rep. Harold Ritchie (H - 75) - Send an Email

Rep. Joel Robideaux (H - 45) - Send an Email

Sen. Jack Donahue (S - 11) - Send an Email

Sen. Robert Adley (S - 36) - Send an Email

Sen. Ben Nevers (S - 12) - Send an Email

Full Call to Action: CASAA: Louisiana Call to Action! Take action to oppose a new tax on vapor products (HB 119).

 

[Bill Godshall]

Please note that the Louisiana House rejected HB 119 by a 81-15 vote yesterday.
Bill Info - HB119

A month ago, that same Louisiana House approved HB 119 by a 78-27 vote (when the bill only raised the cigarette tax from $.36 to $.68/pack).

So yesterday the House rejected the Senate Finance Cmte amendments (that would have further increased the cigarette tax to $1/pack, increased the OTP tax and imposed a tax on e-liquid).

Since Reynolds (and probably the ACS, AHA, ALA) are now urging Conference Committee members to include the vape tax in the Committee Report (i.e. the final bill), lots of vapers and vape shops in LA should be urging the conferees to reject the e-liquid tax.

 

[squee]

HB119 passed yesterday. It went to conference committee and their report was adopted by both houses. The bill is now enrolled and awaiting the governor's signature. It includes the 0.05/mL tax on liquid and seems to go into effect on July 1, 2015.

I say 'seems to' because that's the only date in the bill I see but I find it odd that it would take effect for vapor products so quickly. Usually when a brand new tax is created, there is a 6 -12 month delay to allow for the appropriate mechanisms to be put into place. If this is accurate, businesses only have 2 weeks to get it together

 

[squee]

Gov Jindal signed HB 119 into law today

Governor Jindal Signs Bills Into Law and Issues Vetoes - Governor Bobby Jindal | State of Louisiana

 

[Brotolemaeus]

Remember, .05 cent tax seems like nothing but it is much easier to raise a tax than it is to pass it. We will definitely be seeing this tax rise every time Louisiana (as it always does) hits a budget deficit and starts looking for cash.

 

[Verb]

Does anyone know if this is like North Carolina's $.05 per ml tax in that it does not tax zero nic eliquid?

 

[Bill Godshall]

Yes, as both e-liquid tax laws (in NC and LA) were drafted and lobbied for by Reynolds.