Once again, vapers in New York State are being threatened by multiple bills intended to severely impact the electronic cigarette industry and, by extension, dramatically limit consumer choice and increase the cost of these potentially life-saving products. Representatives Rosenthal and Dinowitz and Senator Rivera have introduced bills that would impose a punitive 75% wholesale tax on “e-cigarette cartridges” and completely ban the sale of refill liquids.
Assembly Bill 296 & Senate Bill 722 would redefine a taxed “tobacco product” to include “e-cigarette cartridges,” subjecting them to New York State’s 75% wholesale tax on “tobacco products.”
The keen observer may spot that AB 296 & SB 722 only apply to “e-cigarette cartridges” and not e-cigarette liquid. This is likely due to the introduction, yet again, of a bill (AB 635) to prohibit the sale of all bottled refill liquids. While there is an exemption provided for instate manufacturers that may allow liquid manufacturers in New York to continue doing business, vapers in New York State would still be unable to buy e-liquid products from retailers within the state. An almost identical bill made its way through an Assembly committee last year.
Please take action NOW to oppose these bills.
CURRENT STATUS OF THESE BILLS
**Please note, at this time, there are no hearings scheduled for any of these bills. They have been introduced and referred to committees. We will update this call to action as details arise. We are also anticipating another attempt at prohibiting indoor use.
There is currently a fourth bill (AB 852) which is identical to SB 7139 from the 2014 session. The purpose of this bill is to require vapor retailers to register with the Department of Health, thereby making them subject to compliance checks to insure retailers are adhering to the state law prohibiting sales to minors. As this bill does not amend any definitions or propose new rules that might subject vapor products and retailers to damaging tobacco regulations, CASAA is currently taking a neutral position. However, we will continue to monitor AB 853 as it moves through the legislative process and update this call to action if things change.
http://blog.casaa.org/2015/01/new-york-call-to-action-ny-state-bills.html
Assembly Bill 296 & Senate Bill 722 would redefine a taxed “tobacco product” to include “e-cigarette cartridges,” subjecting them to New York State’s 75% wholesale tax on “tobacco products.”
The keen observer may spot that AB 296 & SB 722 only apply to “e-cigarette cartridges” and not e-cigarette liquid. This is likely due to the introduction, yet again, of a bill (AB 635) to prohibit the sale of all bottled refill liquids. While there is an exemption provided for instate manufacturers that may allow liquid manufacturers in New York to continue doing business, vapers in New York State would still be unable to buy e-liquid products from retailers within the state. An almost identical bill made its way through an Assembly committee last year.
Please take action NOW to oppose these bills.
CURRENT STATUS OF THESE BILLS
**Please note, at this time, there are no hearings scheduled for any of these bills. They have been introduced and referred to committees. We will update this call to action as details arise. We are also anticipating another attempt at prohibiting indoor use.
- AB 296: Referred to Assembly Ways and Means
- SB 722: Referred to Senate Investigations and Government Operations
- AB 635: Referred to Assembly Health
There is currently a fourth bill (AB 852) which is identical to SB 7139 from the 2014 session. The purpose of this bill is to require vapor retailers to register with the Department of Health, thereby making them subject to compliance checks to insure retailers are adhering to the state law prohibiting sales to minors. As this bill does not amend any definitions or propose new rules that might subject vapor products and retailers to damaging tobacco regulations, CASAA is currently taking a neutral position. However, we will continue to monitor AB 853 as it moves through the legislative process and update this call to action if things change.
http://blog.casaa.org/2015/01/new-york-call-to-action-ny-state-bills.html
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