It’s been about a year since President Obama signed historic legislation known as the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, into law, granting the FDA regulation over tobacco products. Major provisions of the law are already in place. On the first year anniversary of the bill, new restrictions on the marketing and sale of tobacco will go into effect. “This landmark public health law will begin to break the deadly cycle of addicti ... Jump to full article >>

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A new bill passed last month by the Minnesota Senate and House updates the state’s tobacco laws. It takes effect Aug. 1, 2010. The Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act of 2010, signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty in May, makes sure tobacco cessation products won’t be taxed as tobacco products, among other changes. “This is an issue where legislators on both sides of the aisle agreed that more control is needed over these products,&# ... Jump to full article >>

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One of two bills aimed at raising the state’s tobacco tax was snuffed out by a legislative committee Thursday, but may still have a spark of life left. SB40, sponsored by Sen. Allen Christensen, R-Ogden, looks to hike what is now among the lowest tobacco taxes in the country. Christensen argued the change, which would add $1.30 to the current rate of 69.5 cents a pack, is focused on health issues and could result in helping tens of thousand ... Jump to full article >>

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Utah lawmakers on Tuesday passed a proposed ban on smoking in a vehicle in which children are riding. HB82, sponsored by Rep. Jay Seegmiller, D-Sandy, would bar smoking in the vehicle when a child younger than 8 and requiring a restraining device is present. The proposed penalty is a $45 ticket. Several lawmakers argued passionately for keeping children from breathing various chemicals in cigarette smoke, and Seegmiller said the children have no ... Jump to full article >>

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It didn’t get very far, but a bill proposed at the Statehouse Monday raises an issue most of us haven’t heard of — dissolvable tobacco. But Sen. Elliot Werk wants to be proactive and ban the products before they’re even allowed to be sold. The products in question come in the forms of sticks, like toothpicks, and dissolvable chews like mints. They aren’t sold in Idaho yet but they’re being test marketed in Port ... Jump to full article >>

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Former opponents of a statewide smoking ban have found a bill they can support. But advocates of a complete ban say House Bill 2642 does very little. The bill would create an indoor smoking ban somewhat similar to Wichita’s. Businesses could have indoor smoking if they paid a $1-per-square-foot annual fee. A business that allowed smoking would have to serve only customers older than 18, unless it had a sealed-off smoking section with a sepa ... Jump to full article >>

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