2014 Legislative Session Update - Week 4

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2014 Legislative Session Update

Week 4 Update
Friday, March 27, 2014

The fourth week of the 2014 Legislative Session brought a flurry of activity on two bills we have been working in very different ways.  

E-Cigarettes

House Bill 169 by Representatives Frank Artiles (R- Miami) and Ronald “Doc” Renuart (R- Ponte Vedra Beach) was up in the House Regulatory Affairs Committee on Thursday. Originally, the intent of the bill was to prohibit the sale of nicotine products and nicotine dispensing devices (e-cigarettes) to minors. However, added amendment language would strip local governments of their ability to regulate all tobacco products and e-cigarettes, overturn existing ordinances, and block future opportunities to protect kids in the retail environment. For example, many of the product placement ordinances we currently have in Florida go beyond the minimum standards set by the FDA, requiring that ALL tobacco products are placed behind the counter at retail stores, not just cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. With the preemption language, the bill now does more harm than good in the fight to keep Florida’s children tobacco free.

While the HB 169 passed successfully out of committee, we were able to drive a great deal of debate and garner opposition to the bill. This debate will go to the House floor in the coming weeks and we will need you to help us fight back against the tobacco industry.

A special thanks to those of you who took action and contacted members of the committee and submitted letters to the editor. Our message is getting through! 

Palliative Care

We are happy to announce that our palliative care bill, SB 1192 by Senator Eleanor Sobel (D – Hollywood), passed unanimously out of its first committee on Tuesday! We’ll keep pushing to get the bill heard in its next committee.

Updated information on the ACS CAN’s legislative priorities can be found at www.fightcancer.org/florida and you can follow the action in real time on Twitter at @ACSCAN_Florida. If you are on Facebook, don’t forget to check out our new Facebook page as well.  

Yours in the fight,
Heather

Heather Youmans
Florida Government Relations Director
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network