Policy News

The Corte Madera Town Council has passed an ordinance banning the sale of nicotine and tobacco products in town, a measure that is cited as one of the country’s most comprehensive. The ordinance prohibits the sale of tobacco and nicotine products at the town’s seven retailers. The ban includes cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, smokeless nicotine pouches, and related components, parts, and accessories. Furthermore, the ordinance goes beyond prohibiting sales at local retailers; it also prohibits residents from having nicotine products shipped to their homes. The ordinance takes effect February 1, 2027.
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Read original here: https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/corte-madera-passes-ordinance-banning-nicotine-product-sales/

California Assembly Bill 762 has passed both chambers of the state Legislature and is now awaiting action from Governor Gavin Newsom. If signed, the bill would prohibit the import and manufacturing (with the intention to sell) of new or refurbished disposable, battery-embedded vapor devices containing tobacco beginning January 1, 2027. Beginning January 1, 2028, retail sales and distribution of these products would be prohibited. The legislation excludes devices that are refillable and/or rechargeable, with an exclusion for cannabis products d. Violations could result in product seizure, license suspension or revocation, and escalating civil penalties. Governor Newsom has until September 30 to sign or veto the bill. Californians can contact the governor and urge him to sign AB 762 into law. 

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Read original here: https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab762 

On May 12, 2026, the Knoxville City Council voted 7-2 to approve an ordinance prohibiting smoking and vaping inside all bars and other age restricted businesses. The ordinance, which takes effect on January 1, 2027, aims to protect bartenders, musicians, and other hospitality workers from exposure to secondhand smoke while on the job. The policy follows a 2022 Tennessee law allowing cities to establish their own smoking and vaping regulations for age-restricted businesses. Retail tobacco stores, cigar bars, and outdoor patios and balconies are exempt from the ban.

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Read original here: https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article316615953.html

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) issued Special Notice L-1021 announcing that the fee to obtain or renew a cigarette and tobacco products retailer license increased from $265 to $450 per retail location for all applications filed on or after July 1, 2026. This change was mandated by AB 573 (Stats. 2025, ch. 269), which amended the Licensing Act after lawmakers determined that the previous licensing fee no longer covered the growing costs of administering and enforcing California’s tobacco retailer licensing program. The additional revenue will help support retailer inspections and enforcement of state tobacco laws. CDTFA may further adjust the fee up to $600 by regulation to cover program administration costs.

Read California’s special notice here: https://cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/L1021.pdf

On July 7, 2026, Hawai’i Governor Josh Green signed Senate Bill 2175 into law, prohibiting the sale of non-refillable and non-rechargeable e-cigarettes statewide. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027, and is intended to reduce youth e-cigarette use while addressing the environmental impacts of disposable vaping products. Violations are subject to fines of $100 per day.

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Read original here: https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/text/local-news/2026-07-08/new-state-law-bans-the-sale-of-disposable-e-cigarettes