Video & Transcript Research : 'tobacco'

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FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Regulated Industries Jan 12th, 2026

Regulated Industries

Transcript Highlights:
  • We will start with tab 1, Senate Bill 754 on heated tobacco products. Thanks.
  • Senator DeSigley, SB 754 on heated tobacco products, you are recognized to explain the bill.
  • This bill will statutorily define heated tobacco product and exclude heated tobacco products from taxation
  • And this heated tobacco product is an alternative to that.
  • So does this bill completely exempt heated tobacco products from taxes?
Bills: S0754, S0796
Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met with a quorum and took up two bills. First, it heard SB 754 on heated tobacco products. The bill would statutorily define heated tobacco products and exempt them from the cigarette tax. Senator Davis questioned why the exemption was needed, and Senator Bernard asked about youth access; the sponsor said the bill was limited to taxation and would look into age and regulatory issues. A Florida Retail Federation representative appeared in support. The committee voted the bill favorably, and Senator Bracey Davis later asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on tab 1. The committee then considered SB 796 on veterinary medicine, after adopting a delete-everything amendment. The amended bill would create a Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) role for individuals with a master’s degree in veterinary clinical care to perform delegated tasks under a licensed veterinarian’s responsible supervision. It also would extend the time period for telehealth prescriptions for flea and tick products from one month to six months and for other medications from 14 days to 30 days. Senator Boyd raised liability concerns, and the sponsor said existing statute already places liability on the supervising veterinarian. The Florida Veterinary Medical Association testified against the bill, arguing Florida should expand and better utilize existing veterinary technicians rather than create a new mid-level role, and warning about federal prescribing restrictions and animal safety. Supporters, including the Animal Legal Defense Fund and Dr. Wayne Jensen, argued the bill would expand access to care, reduce costs, and provide a well-trained supervised workforce. Several senators said the bill balanced access and safety, and the committee reported SB 796 favorably. The meeting then adjourned.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Mar 5th, 2025

Ways and Means General Fund

Transcript Highlights:
  • category: heated tobacco products.
  • tobacco industry.
  • Heated tobacco products are the latest attempt by the tobacco industry to addict kids to nicotine.
  • No tobacco products, including these, are safe. Tobacco companies... ...products are safe.
  • ; that is, heated tobacco products do not... is that heated tobacco products do not burn.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee Apr 23rd, 2025

Finance and Taxation General Fund

Transcript Highlights:
  • And uh, I think the FDA recognizes that these are modified risk tobacco products.
  • That it's why it's not taxed at a tobacco rate, but it's at a lower rate because it's lower risk and
  • Because I wasn't quite understanding how we tax tobacco products and I understand there...
  • Well, not necessarily lower than tobacco products because tobacco products is kind of all over the board
  • It is a heated tobacco product to help people get off of cigarettes and is sold in a boutique somewhat
DE

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Health & Human Development Committee Meeting Jun 18th, 2026

Health & Human Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • In 1998, the major tobacco manufacturers settled with states across the country.
  • In 1998, the major tobacco manufacturers settled with states across the country.
  • year into the Delaware Health Fund, supporting some of the most important public health programs: tobacco
Bills: SB313, SB296
Summary: The House Health and Human Development Committee met and considered a series of health, human services, and related bills. The committee heard and advanced House Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 13, which standardizes hospital charity care and financial assistance statewide, and Senate Bill 296 with Senate Amendment 1, which restructures the Delaware Health Fund grant process with a more formal, transparent competitive rubric. Both measures received supportive testimony from DHSS, the Delaware Healthcare Association, and the Delaware Nurses Association, and both were released by committee on roll-call votes. The committee also released Senate Bill 313 with Senate Amendment 1, which places a temporary moratorium on acquisitions of nonprofit acute care hospitals by for-profit entities and expands notice/review requirements for sales of hospital real estate; Senate Bill 340 with Senate Amendment 1, which requires long-term care facilities to carry specified liability insurance, with questions raised about the exemption for state-owned facilities; Senate Joint Resolution 20, which directs DHSS to study independent assessment tools for Medicaid home- and community-based services; and Senate Bill 341, which updates Delaware Health Information Network law and formally recognizes DIN as the state’s health data utility. Testimony on these bills was generally supportive, with some discussion on constitutional concerns, insurance coverage, and the rationale for the state exemption in SB 340. Later, the committee advanced Senate Bill 257, which requires new animal shelters to be licensed and inspected before operating and removes a prior exception for certain rescue organizations; and Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 278 with House Amendment 1, which allows earlier pre-authorization for summer child care enrollment and lowers copays for half-day care. Public testimony on these measures came from animal welfare advocates, YMCA representatives, and other stakeholders, all largely in support. Each bill was released by committee, with several votes walked for absent members, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were addressed.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

JDC Public Hearing 02-10-2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Tobacco-related disease remains the number one cause of death in our nation and state.
  • <00:35:50.800> By grab um illegal tobacco products. By grab um illegal tobacco products.
  • And so, similarly, we would like that same authority applied to untaxed tobacco products. >> Okay.
  • of the Attorney General to inspect and seize tobacco products. pass un amended.
  • 00:57:01.359> to updates tobacco enforcement laws to updates tobacco enforcement laws to confirm
Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 2248 would expand financial disclosure requirements to certain gubernatorial nominees subject to Senate confirmation. The State Ethics Commission supported the measure, saying disclosures should be filed before confirmation so the public and interested parties can review them in advance. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, with 22 supporters, no opposition, and one comment. SB 2530 would broaden Hawaii’s campaign contribution ban for state and county contractors to include officers and immediate family members, and would extend the ban to certain grantees and their officers and family members, with specified contract thresholds. The Campaign Spending Commission said the bill is its own proposal and would align the thresholds with procurement guidelines. Testimony was entirely favorable, with 30 in support, no opposition, and two comments. Members asked about conforming amendments and how the existing prohibition on soliciting contributions applies; CSC said the calendar-day language clarifies current practice and that the solicitation ban already applies to contractors, with the bill extending the same standard to officers and immediate family members. SB 2732 would require courts to consider a defendant’s ability to pay when setting bail, including excluding public benefits from income calculations and clarifying the 40-hour affordability benchmark for those above 150% of the federal poverty level. The Office of the Public Defender, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, and the ACLU of Hawaii supported the bill, arguing that unaffordable bail creates wealth-based disparities, contributes to jail overcrowding, and can cause severe collateral consequences for people not yet convicted. There was one opposition testimony and 18 supporters. Committee discussion focused on when the 40-hour period should begin, how income would be verified, and whether misrepresentation could affect bail; the Public Defender said the measure should be read to start from initial appearance and that judges could address false statements through existing remedies. SB 2871 would prohibit discrimination based on perceived characteristics, association with someone who has or is perceived to have protected characteristics, and intersectional combinations of characteristics. The Department of Education supported the intent but asked for clear definitions, while the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission said the bill does not add new protected classes and simply codifies the Lamb v. University of Hawaii decision on intersectional discrimination. LGBTQ+, civil rights, ACLU, and other advocacy groups testified in support, with one opposition testimony and a total of 27 in support, two opposed, and one comment. The committee then heard SB 2919, which appropriates funds for one full-time public deputy public defender position. The Public Defender’s Office said the position would provide statewide legal support and a centralized resource on constitutional, appellate, and immigration-related issues; several advocacy groups supported the measure, and committee questions focused on how the new position would complement existing training and keep staff updated on changing law.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Rules Apr 23rd, 2026 at 08:30 am

Rules

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, how will this impact tobacco cessation efforts like the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline?
  • This is about whether we keep our word to the people of Oklahoma when voters created the Tobacco Settlement
  • Of that program for improving health, reducing tobacco use in the state of Oklahoma.
  • We've been successful through T-Set to reduce tobacco.
  • I don't know if you all know how many people die of tobacco use every year in Oklahoma.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • They are the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Committee, the Tobacco Settlement Permanent Trust Account
  • The committee substitute makes twelve settled changes that narrow the language to rebuild only the Tobacco
  • The legislature established multiple committees to handle the disposition of tobacco settlement funds
  • The substitute maintains the Tobacco Settlement Permanent Trust Account and allows the Treasury to contact