Louisiana House Bill HB365

Louisiana 2020 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/27/20
• Refer: 2/27/20
• Refer: 3/9/20

Caption

Provides for the name of the organization sampling cigars or pipe tobacco on the premises of certain convention facilities (OR NO IMPACT GF RV See Note)

Impact

The bill retains the existing exemption provisions, which apply to samples of cigars and pipe tobacco until December 31, 2025. By providing clarity on the organization linked to the sampling exemption, the legislation is expected to ensure that promotional activities during the convention can proceed without regulatory hindrance. This could help boost marketing efforts for the tobacco industry at such events, allowing exhibitors to interact with potential customers more freely.

Summary

House Bill 365, introduced by Representative Hughes, aims to amend the current excise tax regulations on tobacco products sampled at certain convention facilities. The bill specifically changes the name of the organization entitled to an excise tax exemption for samples of cigars and pipe tobacco from the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association to the Premium Cigar Association Annual Trade Show. This alteration was made in accordance with the legislative intent to clarify the designation and provide specific recognition to the new organization hosting the relevant convention events.

Sentiment

The sentiment around HB 365 seems to be generally supportive within the tobacco industry sectors that benefit from events where samples are distributed. Legislative discussions reflected a consensus that this amendment is a necessary step in updating the state’s regulatory framework to match the current organizational structure of the industry's trade shows. While there may be minimal opposition from public health advocates concerned about tobacco use, this bill primarily affects business practices rather than introducing new regulations.

Contention

Most discussions did not reveal significant points of contention regarding HB 365. The primary focus was on the organizational name change rather than on potential public health implications or revenue concerns typically associated with tobacco taxation. However, stakeholders in public health and anti-tobacco sectors might still be cautious about any actions perceived to support the tobacco industry, even in a limited capacity such as sampling products at conventions.