Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to control how local governments in Minnesota regulate the sale of flavored tobacco and related products. Specifically, it seeks to prevent local units of government from enacting bans on the sale of these products.

Main Provisions

• Prohibition on Local Bans: Local governments, including counties, cities, and towns, cannot impose bans that would prevent the sale of flavored tobacco products. This includes tobacco, tobacco-related devices, electronic delivery devices (such as e-cigarettes), and nicotine or lobelia delivery products.
• Regulation of Flavored Products: The bill prevents local governments from enforcing regulations that result in prohibiting the sale of any flavored products, which are defined as products imparting a taste or smell other than standard tobacco flavors, including flavors like chocolate, menthol, mint, vanilla, fruit, and other sweet or aromatic flavors.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill explicitly amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 461.19 to ensure that sections allowing local governments to impose stricter regulations on tobacco sales do not include the authority to ban flavored tobacco products.
• It changes the existing framework by which local governments might currently use their powers to regulate or restrict tobacco product sales more strictly than state laws.

Relevant Terms

flavored tobacco products, local government regulation, electronic delivery device, nicotine delivery product, flavored product ban, tobacco-related devices, Minnesota Statutes 2024.