HCSHB344--TOBACCOPRODUCTS
SPONSOR: Keathley
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonCommercebyavoteof8to2.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
344.
Thisbillspecifiesthatthestatepreemptsthesaleoftobacco
products,alternativenicotineproducts,andvaporproducts,
includinglocalordinancesthatdealwithingredients,settingthe
agetosellorpurchaseto21yearsandabove,licensingand
productsbans,andsupersedesanylocallaws,ordinances,orders,
rules,orregulationsenactedbyacounty,municipality,orother
politicalsubdivisionregulatingthesaleoftobaccoproducts,
alternativenicotineproducts,orvaporproducts.
Thebilldoesnotprohibitcounties,municipalities, orother
politicalsubdivisionsfromenforcingordinancesandregulations
thatpreventthesaleoftobaccoproducts,alternativenicotine
productsandvaporproductstominorsasdefinedunderstatelaw.
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythattheintentofthebillisto
provideconsistentstandardsfortheregulationoftobaccoand
nicotineproductsacrosstheState.Agerestrictionsarealsoin
place.Thelocallawsthatregulatetherestaurantsandbarsare
notimpactedandthebilldoesnotprecludelawenforcementfrom
enforcingtheprovisions. Tobaccoisalawfulretailproductthat
deservespredictability andastatewidesolution. Localordinances
don'tdecreaseconsumptionbuttheyputretailersatacompetitive
disadvantageandcreatedeserttownsresultinginlossofrevenues
andshiftthesaleofproductstootherstates.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Keathley;
Hub,Inc;MissouriGrocersAssociation;MissouriRetailers
Association;ArnieDienoff;NationalAssociationofTobacco
Outlets;MissouriVapeandAlternativeProductsAssociation;
XcaliberInternational; CigarAssociationofAmerica;Maverik
ConvenienceStores;MissouriWholesaleDistributors;Associated
IndustriesofMissouri;TheHub;MissouriPetroleumandConvenience
Association. OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythattobaccoisthe
numberonecauseofdeathandusingtheterm"preemption"isa
cheapstrategy. Severalcountieshaveordinancesprohibiting
tobaccousage.Localcommunitiesareuniquelypositionedto
addresstheneedsofthecommunityandtheyshouldberesponsible
totheirconstituents. Localauthorityshouldnotbetakenaway.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwereAmericanLung
AssociationinMissouri;AmericanHeartAssociation;MissouriState
MedicalAssociation;MissouriPublicHealthAssociation;Missouri
AcademyofFamilyPhysicians;AmericanCancerSocietyCancerAction
Network;StanleyR.Cowen;CityofKansasCity;GreaterKansasCity
ChamberofCommerce.
OTHERS:Otherstestifyingonthebillsaythatthereisaconcern
withthesaleofproductstominors.
TestifyinginpersononthebillwasMissouriMunicipalLeague.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.