Home > | What's Happening in Your State > | Welcome to the Utah Action Center!

Welcome to the Utah Action Center!

Click here to find out who your legislators are.

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Utah House of Representatives is considering House Bill 95 – which would implement significant business zoning and licensing restrictions on businesses selling tobacco!

The proposal DEFINES any retail location selling tobacco as a "RETAIL TOBACCO SPECIALTY BUSINESS" if:

Tobacco sales account for more than 30% of total annual gross receipts
Food and beverage products, excluding gasoline sales, are less than 50% of annual gross receipts (Note that this definition will most likely include most convenience stores.)

Some of the proposed restrictions under consideration would:

REQUIRE any retail location that meets the definition to OBTAIN A LICENSE from the county in which it is located.
PROHIBIT any new retail location from being within 600 FEET OF:
- ANY PROPERTY USED OR ZONED FOR RESIDENTIAL OR AGRICULTURE USE
- ANY EXISTING "RETAIL TOBACCO SPECIALTY BUSINESS"
PROHIBIT any new retail locations from being within 1,000 FEET OF A "COMMUNITY LOCATION." This includes churches, libraries, parks and schools.
LIMIT GRANDFATHER EXEMPTIONS. Any existing retail location defined as a "Retail Tobacco Specialty Business" would have to meet the following requirements:
- Be in operation on or before May 8, 2012;
- Continuously maintain the business license without a relapse or revocation of license;
- Not substantially change its premises or business operation;
- Not close or discontinue the sale of tobacco products for more than 60 consecutive days.
AUTHORIZE LOCALITIES ABILITY TO REVOKE the license of a "Retail Tobacco Specialty Business" for, among other things, any violation of FDA's retail regulations.

If you would like to contact your elected official regarding this bill, please click on the “My Legislators” link below.

My Legislators

Utah Tobacco Revenue

State Excise Tax on Cigarettes: $1.70
State Excise Tax on Smokeless Tobacco: $1.83/oz
State Excise Tax on Little Cigars: 86% Manufacturer's Price
State Excise Tax on Large Cigars: 86% Manufacturer's Price
Sales Tax on Cigarette Sales: $0.27

Utah Revenue from Cigarettes

Excise Tax Collected (2009): $52,419,000
Master Settlement Agreement (MSA Payments 2009): $45,200,000
Cigarette Sales Tax Revenues (2009): $15,182,541
Total Revenue Collected (2009): $112,801,541

Source: Bill Orzechowski & Rob Walker, The Tax Burden on Tobacco, Historical Compilation Volume 44, 2009.

In order to take action on important issues in your state, please provide us with the information requested so that we can properly match you to your elected officials.

* Prefix:

* First Name:

* Last Name:

* Street Address:

Street Address 2:

* City:

* State:

* Zip Code:

* e-Mail Address:

* Verify e-Mail Address:

Phone:

* Are you a:

* Denotes a required field

*I confirm that I am at least 18 years of age.

2012 Legislative Session: January 23 – March 8

State Website

Governor Gary R. Herbert

State Legislature