Fiscal Note
Fiscal Services Division
SF 345 – Paraphernalia Regulation (LSB1126SV.4)
Staff Contact: Evan Johnson (515.281.6301) evan.johnson@legis.iowa.gov
Fiscal Note Version – Final Action
Description
Senate File 345 relates to the regulation of certain tobacco-related products, including devices
involved with the usage of these products, and establishes licensing fees and sales and excise
tax collection procedures. The Bill defines “device” as any equipment or product, made in whole
or in part of glass and metal, that is designed for use in inhaling through combustion tobacco,
hemp, other plant materials, or a controlled substance. The definition of “device” does not
include vapor products and other certain smokable tobacco-related products. Under the Bill,
retailers who sell these devices will be taxed at a rate of 40.0% of the sales price in addition to
sales and use tax.
In addition to a tobacco retailer permit, device retailers, including delivery sale device retailers,
are required to apply for a device retailer permit. The device retailer permit fee totaling $1,500
annually is to be collected by the State and may be remitted to cities and counties that approve
such permits. Cities and counties that approve device retailer permits must submit the
information to the Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR), and the IDR must submit the current list
of all device retailer permits to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) quarterly.
The Bill creates a Specialty Courts and Diversion Programs Fund under the control of the Office
of Drug Control Policy. All excise taxes collected on devices and permit fee revenue (except for
fees remitted to counties and cities) are deposited into this Fund. Moneys in the Fund are
appropriated to the Office of Drug Control Policy for support of specialty courts and diversion
programs to address underlying substance use disorder-related and mental health-related
issues that contribute to the contact of individuals with the justice system.
The sale of devices is prohibited to any individual under the age of 21. In addition to the
provisions under Iowa Code chapter 453A, the Bill creates various requirements for device
retailers and establishes civil penalties for the willful violation of those requirements.
Additionally, a device retailer permit holder, a device delivery sale permit holder, or another
individual who violates the provisions of the Bill is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.
The Bill takes effect January 1, 2025.
Background
Iowa Code chapter 453A provides for cigarette and tobacco taxation and regulation, including
license suspension, license revocation provisions, and penalties that apply to tobacco retailers,
device retailers, and device delivery sale permit holders, as well as those who do not hold
permits.
A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at
least $430 but no more than $2,560.
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 Assumptions
• Marginal costs for county jails cannot be estimated due to a lack of data. For purposes of
this analysis, the marginal cost for county jails is assumed to be $50 per day.
• The IDR estimates there are approximately 100 currently licensed tobacco stores in the
State. Of these stores, approximately 35 sell devices regulated under the Bill and will apply
for a device retailer permit.
• Total device sales at these stores in FY 2022 were estimated as a percentage of the
retailers’ total sales. The estimations are as follows: 4 stores had 100.0% device sales, 7
stores had 50.0% device sales, and 24 stores had 25.0% device sales. Estimated sales of
devices were approximately $6.6 million in FY 2022.
• Additional non-tobacco-specific stores (convenience stores, gas stations, etc.) that currently
sell devices regulated under the Bill will not apply for a device retailer permit.
• According to the HHS, there are currently 3,597 locations, including non-tobacco-specific
stores, that sell tobacco and require compliance checks.
• The additional cost of devices will not affect sales for other products.
• Permit fees collected for out-of-state retailers cannot be determined.
• Sales tax growth from FY 2022 to FY 2023 is assumed to be 3.9%. Growth trends in future
fiscal years are assumed to be 2.0%.
Correctional Impact
Senate File 345 establishes two new serious misdemeanors related to device retailer permit
holders, device delivery sale permit holders, and other individuals who violate the provisions of
new Iowa Code chapter 453E. Convictions related to new Iowa Code chapter 453E cannot be
estimated due to a lack of data.
Figure 1 provides estimates for sentencing to State prison, parole, probation, or
Community-Based Corrections (CBC) residential facilities; LOS under those supervisions; and
supervision marginal costs per day for all convictions of serious misdemeanors. Refer to the
Legislative Services Agency (LSA) memo addressed to the General Assembly, Cost Estimates
Used for Correctional Impact Statements, dated January 16, 2024, for information related to the
correctional system.
Figure 1 — Sentencing Estimates and LOS
Percent
Percent FY 2023 Marginal FY23 Sentenced Percent FY 23 Marginal
Ordered Avg LOS in Cost Per Percent Field Avg Avg Cost to CBC Marginal Ordered Marginal Field Avg Cost Per
to State Prison (All Day Ordered to LOS on Per Day on Residential Cost Per to County Cost Per LOS on Day
Conviction Offense Class Prison Releases) Prison Probation Probation Probation Facility Day CBC Jail Day Jail Parole Parole
Serious Misdemeanor 1.7% 6.6 $24.94 53.0% 19.2 $7.67 1.2% $20.00 74.2% $50.00 N/A $7.67
Minority Impact
The minority impact of SF 345 is unknown. Refer to the LSA memo addressed to the General
Assembly, Minority Impact Statement, dated January 16, 2024, for information related to
minorities in the criminal justice system.
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Fiscal Impact
Excise Tax
Senate File 345 is estimated to result in revenue of $1.4 million in FY 2025 and $2.9 million in
FY 2026 to the Specialty Courts and Diversion Programs Fund as a result of the excise tax
collected. Figure 2 provides revenue estimates for the Fund through FY 2029.
Figure 2 — Revenue Estimates to the Specialty Courts and Diversion Programs Fund
(In Millions)
Fiscal Year Excise Tax Revenue
FY 2025 $ 1.4
FY 2026 2.9
FY 2027 3.0
FY 2028 3.0
FY 2029 3.1
Permit Fee
Permit fee revenue is estimated to be $50,000 annually. This revenue will be deposited into the
Specialty Courts and Diversion Programs Fund unless remitted to a city or county. Any permit
fee remitted to a city or county will be credited to the respective city or county’s general fund.
Correctional Fiscal Impact
Senate File 345 establishes new crimes. The resulting cost to the justice system cannot be
determined. The average State cost per serious misdemeanor conviction ranges from $400 to
$6,900, which includes operating costs incurred by the Judicial Branch, the State Public
Defender, and the Department of Corrections (DOC). In addition, the new offenses established
by SF 345 may increase civil penalty revenue, but the impact is unknown.
Additional Fiscal Impact
The cost to the IDR to update its electronic I-PLEDGE Tobacco Enforcement Program reporting
system, which would be used for data entry related to device retailer permit applications
collected from localities, is estimated at $11,000. If the number of licensed tobacco retailers
increases, there may be increased costs for the HHS associated with the annual compliance
checks on tobacco retailers, but the total impact is unknown. The cost of one compliance check
on a tobacco retailer in the State is $75. The HHS contracts with the IDR to perform the
compliance checks.
Sources
Iowa Department of Revenue
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Corrections
Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, Department of Management
Legislative Services Agency analysis
/s/ Jennifer Acton
May 8, 2024
Doc ID 1449631
The fiscal note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code. Data used in developing this
fiscal note is available from the Fiscal Services Division of the Legislative Services Agency upon request.
www.legis.iowa.gov
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