An act to amend Section 22974.5 of, and to add Section 22980.7 to, add Section 22974.6 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to public health.
Summary
SB 1124 would require the California Department of Public Health to create standardized signage about lung cancer screening by July 1, 2027. The sign must include eligibility criteria, information on the effectiveness of screening, the toll-free number for Kick It California, and a QR code linking to the program’s website. Beginning January 1, 2028, retailers that sell cigarettes or tobacco products would have to prominently display the signage in every retail location.
The bill also amends existing tobacco-retailer penalty provisions to add a specific penalty for failing to display the new signage. A retailer that violates the requirement could face license suspension or revocation, a civil penalty of $500, or misdemeanor liability. The measure is framed as a public health and tobacco-cessation outreach bill, using retail tobacco locations as a point of contact for screening information and cessation resources.
Impact
SB 1124 would add a new section to the Business and Professions Code and modify existing retailer penalty language in Section 22974.5. It expands the regulatory obligations of cigarette and tobacco product retailers by requiring them to post state-developed lung cancer screening signage, and it gives the State Department of Public Health responsibility for creating that signage. The bill also creates a new enforcement mechanism tied to existing tobacco licensing laws, including possible license discipline, civil penalties, and misdemeanor exposure, while declaring that no state reimbursement is required for local costs associated with the new offense.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests broad support for the bill at the committee level. It received unanimous or near-unanimous do-pass recommendations in committee, and it was advanced with amendments before being sent to Appropriations, where it was placed on the suspense file. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded floor or hearing debate in the materials, but the vote pattern indicates the measure was generally viewed favorably as a public health initiative.
Contention
The main policy tension appears to be between public health goals and the compliance burden placed on tobacco retailers. Supporters likely view the bill as a low-cost way to promote lung cancer screening and connect smokers to cessation services through a point-of-sale notice. Potential concerns are the added signage mandate, the enforcement penalties, and the misdemeanor provision, which could be seen as burdensome for retailers and as expanding criminal liability for a regulatory posting requirement. The reduction of the civil penalty from $1,000 to $500 in the amended text may reflect an effort to address those concerns.
An act to amend Sections 22974.2 and 22980 of the Business and Professions Code, and to amend Sections 25218.3, 25218.5, and 25218.8 of, to add Section 119407 to, and to add and repeal Section 25218.6 of, the Health and Safety Code, relating to vape products.
An act to amend Sections 19813 and 19883 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to gambling. Section 69842 of the Government Code, relating to courts.