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CaliforniaAB 5732025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Tobacco: licenses.

Sponsored By: Chris Rogers (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 1 mixed.

Per‑package fines for flavored tobacco

The department or police can seize illegal flavored tobacco products and flavor enhancers from wholesalers. You pay $50 for each individual package seized; cartons and cases do not count as packages. After a second seizure, a wholesaler’s license can be suspended; a third leads to revocation. For distributors and others, the first offense is a warning, the second a suspension, and the third a revocation. Penalty money goes to the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Compliance Fund.

Stronger penalties for unlicensed tobacco sales

Selling cigarettes or tobacco without a valid license, or after suspension or revocation, is a misdemeanor. Each day you keep offering products after notice is a separate violation. Continued sales or gifting can lead to seizure and forfeiture of all tobacco you have. “Gifting” means any transfer without payment of products bought for resale during a suspension or after revocation. A clear, visible display creates a presumption the items are for sale, and the product definition now includes certain devices (since January 1, 2017).

New ownership control test for licensees

The law defines control as the power to vote 25% or more of any class of voting stock, or to direct management and policies. Owning or holding proxies for 10% or more of voting securities creates a presumption of control. The department can decide control in fact using these standards.

More retailers need licenses, higher fees

Retailers who sell tobacco products not taxed under state tobacco tax law must get a retailer license if they do not already have one. Filings before July 1, 2026 cost $265 per store. Filings on or after July 1, 2026 cost $450 per store. The department may raise the post‑2026 fee up to $600 per store to fund enforcement. Fees apply per location and are not prorated.

Old licensing rule repealed

The law repeals an older licensing rule in state code. Any duties or powers in that section end. Businesses should review the updated licensing rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Chris Rogers

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Dawn Addis

    Democratic • House

  • Patrick Ahrens

    Democratic • House

  • Tasha Boerner

    Democratic • House

  • Damon Connolly

    Democratic • House

  • Alex Lee

    Democratic • House

  • Sharon Quirk-Silva

    Democratic • House

  • Susan Rubio

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 207 • No: 2

House vote • 9/10/2025

Item 211 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 62 • No: 1

Senate vote • 9/9/2025

Item 260 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 33 • No: 0

legislature vote • 8/29/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 5 • No: 0

legislature vote • 8/18/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 7/9/2025

Vote in CS83

Yes: 4 • No: 0

legislature vote • 7/2/2025

Vote in CS60

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote • 6/3/2025

Item 60 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 63 • No: 1

legislature vote • 5/23/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 11 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/22/2025

Vote in CX08

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 269, Statutes of 2025.

    10/3/2025Senate

  2. Approved by the Governor.

    10/3/2025legislature

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

    9/22/2025legislature

  4. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 62. Noes 1. Page 3198.).

    9/10/2025House

  5. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

    9/9/2025House

  6. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 33. Noes 0. Page 2735.).

    9/9/2025Senate

  7. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    9/8/2025Senate

  8. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    9/4/2025Senate

  9. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    8/29/2025Senate

  10. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (August 29).

    8/29/2025Senate

  11. In committee: Referred to suspense file.

    8/18/2025Senate

  12. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    7/9/2025Senate

  13. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.

    7/3/2025Senate

  14. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on REV. & TAX. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.

    7/3/2025Senate

  15. Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and REV. & TAX.

    6/18/2025Senate

  16. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    6/4/2025Senate

  17. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 63. Noes 1. Page 1973.)

    6/3/2025House

  18. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    5/27/2025House

  19. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 23).

    5/23/2025House

  20. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

    4/30/2025House

  21. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    4/23/2025House

  22. Coauthors revised.

    4/23/2025House

  23. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

    4/1/2025House

  24. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.

    3/28/2025House

  25. Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.

    3/28/2025House

Bill Text

  • Chaptered

    10/3/2025

    HTML

  • Enrolled

    9/12/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Senate

    9/4/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Senate

    7/3/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Assembly

    3/28/2025

    HTML

  • Introduced

    2/12/2025

    HTML

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