The proposed bill aims to prohibit the sale or offer for sale of flavored tobacco products in Minnesota, amending existing statutes to include new definitions and penalties. Specifically, it amends Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 461.12, subdivision 2, to impose administrative penalties on licensees, employees, or agents who sell flavored products, with penalties escalating from $300 for the first violation to $1,000 for subsequent violations. Additionally, the bill introduces a new section, 461.23, which defines flavored products and establishes a prohibition against their sale by any licensee or out-of-state retailer.

The bill also outlines a rebuttable presumption that certain products are flavored based on manufacturer claims or labeling, and it specifies that violations will incur administrative penalties as detailed in section 461.12. Furthermore, any flavored product sold in violation of this law will be considered contraband, subject to forfeiture and civil penalties. The effective date for these provisions is set for August 1, 2024, applying to sales occurring on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 461.12, 461.19
1st Engrossment: 461.12, 461.19