AB1125: Bill Text

2021 Assembly BILL 1125

March 10, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives Vining, Billings, Pope, Baldeh, Bowen, Cabrera, Conley, Considine, Hebl, Milroy, Sinicki, Shelton, Stubbs, Subeck, Vruwink, Hesselbein and Spreitzer, cosponsored by Senators Roys, Agard, Carpenter and L. Taylor. Referred to Committee on Rules.

AB1125,1,10 An Act to repeal 134.65 (8) and 139.75 (14); to renumber and amend 134.65 (1); to amend 134.65 (title), 134.65 (1m), 134.65 (1r), 134.65 (4), 134.65 (5m), 134.65 (6), 134.66 (1) (g), 139.75 (1), 139.75 (2), 139.75 (4) (a), 139.75 (4) (b), 139.75 (4) (c), 139.75 (5), 139.75 (6), 139.75 (7), 139.75 (8), 139.75 (9), 139.75 (10), 139.75 (11), 139.75 (13), 139.76, 139.77 (1), 139.78 (1), 139.78 (1m), 139.78 (2), 139.79 (1), 139.80, 139.801 (1), 139.801 (3) (a), 139.801 (3) (b), 139.801 (3) (c), 139.801 (4), 139.802, 139.803 (4), 139.803 (5), 139.805, 139.81 (1), 139.82 (1), 139.82 (2) and 139.82 (8); and to create 20.566 (1) (am), 134.65 (1a), 134.65 (2m), 134.65 (9) and 139.75 (4b) of the statutes; relating to: licenses for the retail sale of electronic smoking devices and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires a person who sells electronic smoking devices to obtain a cigarette and tobacco products retailer license. The bill defines an “electronic smoking device” as any device that can be used to deliver an aerosolized or vaporized liquid or other substance for inhalation, regardless of whether the liquid or other substance contains nicotine, including parts, accessories, liquids, substances, e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, vape pens, and e-hookahs.

Specifically, the bill requires a retailer who sells or offers for sale electronic smoking devices to obtain an annual license from the clerk of the city, village, or town where the retailer is located. Under the bill, municipalities that issue retail licenses to sell cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices must submit a list annually to the Department of Revenue with a list of those licenses and certain information relating to the licenses and licensees, which DOR must post on its Internet site.

The bill also authorizes cities, villages, and towns to enact an ordinance regulating cigarette, tobacco product, and electronic smoking device retailers if the ordinance is at least as stringent as the requirements under state law. Additionally, the bill authorizes two positions in the Department of Health Services to conduct investigations of retail sales of cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and tobacco products, and two positions in DOR for administering and enforcing the taxes imposed on the sale of electronic smoking devices.

The bill also provides additional funding for 1) local investigations of retail sales of cigarettes and tobacco products, 2) special education aid the Department of Public Instruction pays to school districts, independent charter schools, cooperative educational service agencies, and county children with disabilities education boards; 3) the University of Wisconsin System under its general program operations appropriation; and 4) state aid to technical colleges.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB1125,1 Section 1 . 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

AB1125,2 Section 2 . 20.566 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1125,3,4 20.566 (1) (am) Administration of electronic smoking devices tax and enforcement. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for the purpose of administering and enforcing the taxes imposed for the sale of electronic smoking devices.

AB1125,3 Section 3 . 134.65 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,3,7 134.65 (title) Cigarette, electronic smoking devices, and tobacco products retailer license.

AB1125,4 Section 4 . 134.65 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 134.65 (1d) and amended to read:

AB1125,3,15 134.65 (1d) No person shall in any manner, or upon any pretense, or by any device, directly or indirectly sell, expose for sale, possess with intent to sell, exchange, barter, dispose of or give away any cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, or tobacco products to any person not holding a license as herein provided or a permit under ss. 139.30 to 139.41 or 139.79 without first obtaining a license from the clerk of the city, village or town wherein such privilege is sought to be exercised.

AB1125,5 Section 5 . 134.65 (1a) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1125,3,17 134.65 (1a) In this section:

AB1125,3,18 (a) “Cigarette” has the meaning given in s. 139.30 (1m).

AB1125,3,19 (b) “Electronic smoking device” has the meaning given in s. 139.75 (4b).

AB1125,3,20 (c) “Tobacco products” has the meaning given in s. 139.75 (12).

AB1125,3,21 (d) “Vending machine” has the meaning given in s. 139.30 (14).

AB1125,6 Section 6 . 134.65 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,4,2 134.65 (1m) A city, village, or town clerk may not issue a license under sub. (1) (1d) unless the applicant specifies in the license application whether the applicant will sell, exchange, barter, dispose of, or give away the cigarette, electronic smoking devices, or tobacco products over the counter or in a vending machine, or both.

AB1125,7 Section 7 . 134.65 (1r) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,4,9 134.65 (1r) A city, village, or town clerk may not require an applicant's signature on an application for a cigarette, electronic smoking devices, and tobacco products retailer license to be notarized. If a city, village, town, or any department of this state prepares an application form for a cigarette, electronic smoking devices, and tobacco products retailer license, the form may not require an applicant's signature on the form to be notarized.

AB1125,8 Section 8. 134.65 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1125,4,17 134.65 (2m) Annually, no later than July 15, the clerk of a city, village, or town issuing licensed under sub. (1d) shall submit to the department of revenue, in a manner prescribed by the department, a list of licenses issued by the city, village, or town under sub. (1d) during the previous fiscal year. The list shall include the name, address, seller's permit number, and trade name of the licensee and the type of license held. The department of revenue shall publish the list annually on the department's Internet site.

AB1125,9 Section 9 . 134.65 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,4,24 134.65 (4) Every licensed retailer shall keep complete and accurate records of all purchases and receipts of cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and tobacco products. Such records shall be preserved on the licensed premises for 2 years in such a manner as to insure permanency and accessibility for inspection and shall be subject to inspection at all reasonable hours by authorized state and local law enforcement officials.

AB1125,10 Section 10 . 134.65 (5m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,5,3 134.65 (5m) Any person who knowingly provides materially false information in an application for a cigarette, electronic smoking devices, and tobacco products retailer license under this section may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000.

AB1125,11 Section 11. 134.65 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,5,8 134.65 (6) Any 1st class city may revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew any license issued under this section, as provided in sub. (7) or a 1st class city may enact an ordinance establishing procedures for revoking, suspending, or refusing to renew any license issued under this section.

AB1125,12 Section 12. 134.65 (8) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1125,13 Section 13. 134.65 (9) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1125,5,14 134.65 (9) A city, village, or town may enact and enforce an ordinance regulating persons holding a cigarette, electronic smoking devices, and tobacco products retailer license under this section if the ordinance is at least as stringent as this section.

AB1125,14 Section 14. 134.66 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,5,16 134.66 (1) (g) “Retailer" means any person licensed under s. 134.65 (1) (1d).

AB1125,15 Section 15. 139.75 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,5,20 139.75 (1) “Business" means any trade, occupation, activity or enterprise engaged in for the purpose of selling or distributing tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices in this state.

AB1125,16 Section 16. 139.75 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,5,24 139.75 (2) “Consumer" means any person who has title to or possession of tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices in storage for use or other consumption in this state.

AB1125,17 Section 17. 139.75 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,6,4 139.75 (4) (a) Any person engaged in the business of selling tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices in this state who brings, or causes to be brought, into this state from outside the state any tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices for sale;

AB1125,18 Section 18. 139.75 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,6,8 139.75 (4) (b) Any person who makes, manufactures or fabricates tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices in this state for sale in this state; or

AB1125,19 Section 19. 139.75 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,6,13 139.75 (4) (c) Any person engaged in the business of selling tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices outside this state who ships or transports tobacco products or electronic smoking devices to retailers in this state to be sold by those retailers.

AB1125,20 Section 20. 139.75 (4b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1125,6,25 139.75 (4b) “Electronic smoking device” means a device that may be used to deliver any aerosolized or vaporized liquid or other substance for inhalation, regardless of whether the liquid or other substance contains nicotine, including an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, vape pen, or e-hookah. “Electronic smoking device” includes a component, part, or accessory of the device, and includes a liquid or other substance that may be aerosolized or vaporized by such device, regardless of whether the liquid or other substance contains nicotine. “Electronic smoking device” does not include a battery or battery charger when sold separately. “Electronic smoking device” does not include drugs, devices, or combination products authorized for sale by the U.S. food and drug administration, as those terms are defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

AB1125,21 Section 21. 139.75 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,7,3 139.75 (5) “Manufacturer" means any person who manufactures and sells tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices.

AB1125,22 Section 22. 139.75 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,7,8 139.75 (6) “Place of business" means any place where tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices are sold, manufactured, stored, or kept for the purpose of sale or consumption, including any vessel, vehicle, airplane, train, or vending machine.

AB1125,23 Section 23. 139.75 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,7,11 139.75 (7) “Retail outlet" means each place of business from which tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices are sold to consumers.

AB1125,24 Section 24. 139.75 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,7,15 139.75 (8) “Retailer" means any person engaged in the business of selling tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices to ultimate consumers.

AB1125,25 Section 25. 139.75 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,7,21 139.75 (9) “Sale" means any transfer, exchange , or barter for a consideration. It includes a gift by a person engaged in the business of selling tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices for advertising or as a means of evading this subchapter or for any other purpose, and it includes solicitation of orders for, and the sale for, future delivery.

AB1125,26 Section 26. 139.75 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,7,24 139.75 (10) “Storage" means any keeping or retention of tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices for use or consumption in this state.

AB1125,27 Section 27. 139.75 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,8,3 139.75 (11) “Subjobber" means any person, other than a manufacturer or distributor, who buys tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices from a distributor and sells them to persons other than the ultimate consumers.

AB1125,28 Section 28. 139.75 (13) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,8,6 139.75 (13) “Use" means the exercise of any right or power incidental to the ownership of tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices.

AB1125,29 Section 29. 139.75 (14) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1125,30 Section 30. 139.76 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,9,4 139.76 Imposition; exceptions. (1) An excise tax is imposed upon the sale, offering or exposing for sale, possession with intent to sell or removal for consumption or sale or other disposition for any purpose of tobacco products by any person engaged as a distributor of them at the rate, for tobacco products, not including moist snuff and vapor products electronic smoking devices, of 71 percent of the manufacturer's established list price to distributors without diminution by volume or other discounts on domestic products and, for moist snuff, at the rate of 100 percent of the manufacturer's established list price to distributors without diminution by volume or other discounts on domestic products. The tax imposed under this subsection on cigars shall not exceed an amount equal to 50 cents for each cigar. On products imported from another country, not including moist snuff and vapor products electronic smoking devices, the rate of tax is 71 percent of the amount obtained by adding the manufacturer's list price to the federal tax, duties and transportation costs to the United States. On moist snuff imported from another country, the rate of the tax is 100 percent of the amount obtained by adding the manufacturer's list price to the federal tax, duties, and transportation costs to the United States. The tax attaches at the time the tobacco products are received by the distributor in this state. The tax shall be passed on to the ultimate consumer of the tobacco products. All tobacco products received in this state for sale or distribution within this state, except tobacco products actually sold as provided in sub. (2), shall be subject to such tax.

AB1125,9,15 (1m) An excise tax is imposed upon the sale, offering or exposing for sale, possession with intent to sell or removal for consumption or sale or other disposition for any purpose of vapor products electronic smoking devices by any person engaged as a distributor of them at the rate of 5 cents per milliliter of the liquid or other substance based on the volume as listed by the manufacturer and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity or fractional part thereof. The tax attaches at the time the vapor products electronic smoking devices are received by the distributor in this state. The tax shall be passed on to the ultimate consumer of the vapor products electronic smoking devices. All vapor products electronic smoking devices received in this state for sale or distribution within this state, except those actually sold as provided in sub. (2), shall be subject to such tax.

AB1125,9,22 (2) Tobacco products and vapor products electronic smoking devices sold to or by post exchanges of the U.S. armed forces, to or by federally operated veterans hospitals in this state, and tobacco products and vapor products electronic smoking devices sold to an interstate carrier of passengers for hire to be resold to bona fide passengers actually being transported and tobacco products and vapor products electronic smoking devices sold for shipment outside this state in interstate commerce are not subject to the tax.

AB1125,31 Section 31. 139.77 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,9,25 139.77 (1) On or before the 15th day of each month, every distributor with a place of business in this state shall file a return showing the quantity, including milliliters in the case of a vapor product an electronic smoking device, and taxable price of each tobacco product or vapor product electronic smoking device brought, or caused to be brought, into this state for sale; or made, manufactured or fabricated in this state for sale in this state, during the preceding month. Every distributor outside this state shall file a return showing the quantity, including milliliters in the case of a vapor product an electronic smoking device, and taxable price of each tobacco product or vapor product electronic smoking device shipped or transported to retailers in this state to be sold by those retailers during the preceding month. At the time that the return is filed, the distributor shall pay the tax.

AB1125,32 Section 32. 139.78 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,10,19 139.78 (1) A tax is imposed upon the use or storage by consumers of tobacco products in this state at the rate, for tobacco products, not including moist snuff and vapor products electronic smoking devices, of 71 percent of the cost of the tobacco products and, for moist snuff, at the rate of 100 percent of the manufacturer's established list price to distributors without diminution by volume or other discounts on domestic products. The tax imposed under this subsection on cigars shall not exceed an amount equal to 50 cents for each cigar. The tax does not apply if the tax imposed by s. 139.76 (1) on the tobacco products has been paid or if the tobacco products are exempt from the tobacco products tax under s. 139.76 (2).

AB1125,33 Section 33. 139.78 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,11,3 139.78 (1m) A tax is imposed upon the use or storage by consumers of vapor products electronic smoking devices in this state at the rate of 5 cents per milliliter of the liquid or other substance based on the volume as listed by the manufacturer and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity or fractional part thereof. The tax does not apply if the tax imposed by s. 139.76 (1m) on the vapor products electronic smoking devices has been paid or if the vapor products electronic smoking devices are exempt from the vapor products electronic smoking devices tax under s. 139.76 (2).

AB1125,34 Section 34. 139.78 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,11,10 139.78 (2) On or before the 15th day of each month, every consumer who during the preceding month has acquired title to or possession for use or storage in this state of tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices upon which the tax imposed by s. 139.76 has not been paid shall file a return showing the quantity of tobacco products and vapor products electronic smoking devices acquired. At the time when the return is filed, the consumer shall pay the tax.

AB1125,35 Section 35. 139.79 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1125,11,15 139.79 (1) No person may engage in the business of a distributor or subjobber of tobacco products or vapor products electronic smoking devices at any place of business unless that person has filed an application for and obtained a permit from the department to engage in that business at such place.

AB1125,36 Section 36. 139.80 of the statutes is amended to read: