Senate Bill (SB) 235, which was originally a tobacco retail licensure (TRL) bill, continues through the process. The bill was “gut and stuffed” in the Senate Health Care Committee to simply put in statute a definition of “enclosed space” under the Indoor Clean Air Act (ICAA). Additional amendments were introduced in the House Health Care Committee that would have added back language for a statewide TRL program. Rather than adopting the amendments, however, the committee moved the bill to Ways & Means for further discussion of the amendments there.
Senate Bill (SB) 307, which would allow for social consumption of cannabis is now on the -3 amendments. These amendments were an attempt to help address concerns of the public health community; however, AOC and others remain opposed to the bill. There are a number of remaining regulatory questions that the -3 do nothing to address. The bill will have a third public hearing the week of May 29, but is not yet scheduled for a work session.
SB 754-A, “Tobacco 21,” had been carried over for a number of House floor sessions, and when it came up on May 24, it was sent to the House Rules Committee rather than receiving a vote on the House Floor. There are some additional amendments needed to address concerns over provisions of the bill regarding possession of tobacco products by those under 21. Advocates remain confident that these amendments will solve any issues and the bill should still pass out of the House.
HB 2122-A, the “CCO 2.0” bill was sent to Ways and Means from the House Floor on May 22. The version of the bill that had passed out of the House Rules Committee had Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) split on their positions, while nearly all had been opposed to the original version of the bill.
Contributed by: Stacy Michaelson | AOC Health & Human Services Policy Manager