Legislative Bills

Primary tabs

SB0130 | Electronic Cigarette Restrictions

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions relating to the regulation of electronic cigarette products.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Exempts electronic cigarette products that receive marketing authorization from certain regulations regarding nicotine content.

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Senate/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Senator
Democrat - District 3
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose
Impact on Children: 

We finally got a rule that set nicotine limits on vaping products, and this bill would essentially be the "nose of the camel" in the tent. It would only apply to two products right now, but it would be leading to who knows how many down the road. It would take the power to control nicotine levels away from the state, and give it to the FDA.

Commission: 
Student Leadership
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Utah PTA support state and local ordinances that appropriately address regulations of ENDS products

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

Secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.

SB0132S02 | Beer Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill modifies and enacts provisions related to beer.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 26, 2019
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 21
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

This will allow beer with a higher alcohol percentage to be sold in convenience stores and grocery stores, with more accessibility to our children.

Commission: 
Health
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Resolved, That Utah State PTA create an awareness of the hazards of selling alcoholic beverages not within the dispensing store where proper I.D. can be closely checked.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Resolved, That the National PTA and its constituent organizations work for increased awareness of existing regulations and laws which protect children from these hazards to their health and well being;
https://www.pta.org/home/advocacy/ptas-positions/Individual-PTA-Resoluti...

SB0133S02 | Food Security Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses food security in the state.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill addresses food security in Utah. It creates the State Nutrition Action Coalition at USU to coordinate state efforts in addressing food security

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 21, 2022
Sponsor
Senator
Democrat - District 10
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$75,000
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2023: to Utah State University -- Cooperative Extension, as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, $75,000.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Passage of this bill will strengthen Utah PTA's efforts to ensure that all children have better access to healthy food. Food insecurity is linked to lower reading and math scores, falling behind peers academically and socially, and may lead to increased risk of behavioral issues such as anxiety, hyperactivity and aggression.

Commission: 
Health
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of a child’s health, well-being and balance. Unfortunately, in many cases, if a student arrives late for school, they do not have an opportunity to participate in breakfast after the bell, which can lead to lack of focus and attention. Food insecurity is linked to lower reading and math scores, falling behind peers academically and socially, and may lead to increased risk of behavioral issues, such as anxiety, hyperactivity and aggression. National PTA is keenly aware that food insecurity, faced by 14 million children, is exacerbated by meal debt policies that shame and stigmatize.

SB0133 | Electronic Cigarette and Other Nicotine Product Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill modifies provisions relating to the retail sale of electronic cigarettes and other nicotine products.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill requires the State Tax Commission to report suspected sales of illegal electronic cigarette products or nicotine products to the local health department, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Public Safety; It also requires the local health department to investigate whether the sale is illegal; and requires the State Tax Commission to maintain and publish a list of all persons licensed to distribute an electronic cigarette product or a nicotine product in the state. It requires an electronic cigarette product or a nicotine product retailer to purchase the products from a distributor that is licensed in the state; and requires the State Tax Commission to impose a penalty upon a retailer that purchases an electronic cigarette product or nicotine product from a person other than a licensed distributor;

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 14, 2024
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 24
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$1,000,000
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025: to Department of Public Safety - Programs & Operations - CITS State Bureau of Investigation as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, $750,000 to Department of Public Safety - Programs & Operations - CITS State Bureau of Investigation as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, One-time, $250,000
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

These requirements further protect Utah's youth from purchasing E-cigarettes and nicotine products that may contain an unlawful amount of nicotine.

Commission: 
Health
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA seek and support legislation that would include ENDS in the Utah Code Annotated definition of tobacco products and treat them as such –including the need for licensing, sales restrictions, tax parity, and marketing.

SB0134S01 | Tobacco Regulation Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions relating to the regulation of electronic cigarettes.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
▸ provides that a regulation on nicotine content in electronic cigarette products may not be more restrictive than a certain level; and
▸ limits the Department of Health's authority to regulate certain electronic cigarette products that have been authorized for sale by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

 

Substitute 1

▸lower the nicotine level slightly, but not really. Most products could still stay at the higher levels.

▸takes a lot of the positive aspects and wording from SB 189 and puts them in this bill - strengthening of penalties, etc.

▸raises the tax on e-cigarettes

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Senate/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 05, 2021
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 16
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose

SB 134 Sub 1 attempts to placate the crowd who is against this bill by raising the tax, and upping the penalties for retailers who break the rules, in turn, then it would be ok for them to up the levels of nicotine in these products. "See, we are doing something to take them out of the hands of kids, and you don't really care about everyone else being hooked on nicotine, and in case you still are concerned, here's some money..."

 

Senator Bramble has framed this legislation as the case of the Health Dept trying to put in place rules and regulations, but that it should be the legislature who does that. HB 23 had the same wording as HB 415 from 2015, that Senator Bramble was a sponsor of, and he didn't seem to mind that for the past 5 years, but he is upset now since the DOH came back with answers that someone doesn't like. The DOH has come out in opposition to this bill as well, and you don't usually see a department of the government coming out like that. If the senators were listening to this more as a health issue, their responses might be different, but this did get sent to the Senate Business & Labor Commission, so that tells you something about how they are approaching this bill (and most of the vaping legilation over the years).

Impact on Children: 

Flavors and nicotine are the 1-2 punch that gets our children hooked on e-cigarettes. Allowing tobacco companies to triple the amount of nicotine which will be very harmful to anyone who tries e-cigarettes and becomes addicted.

It also increases the Preemption Expansion that was started in HB 23 last year - Removes local power to regulate products - at all - makes it so tobacco companies just need to lobby the state legislature, which may be unfairly influenced by conflicts of interest or special interest money. 

Commission: 
Student Leadership
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA support state and local ordinances that appropriately address regulations of ENDS products.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

Maximum local control when it serves the best interest of all children and youth.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

Support measures to promote safe and healthy environments and behaviors for children

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

National PTA will participate with other organizations in educating the public about the dangers of tobacco products, their effects, and the cost of the use of tobacco products to society as a whole.