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The Retail EmployerJuly 2008
State Issues
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
The General Assembly’s Transportation Special Session II came to a halt on June 27 th as if it was on I-95 North at Springfield or I-64 at the Hampton Roads Tunnel, however; it will reconvene on July 9 th.
Special Session II brief as it was, 4 days for the Senate and 5 days for the House of Delegates, saw a number of bills filed to provide options for the Transportation funding issue. Some of the funding options include:
- Increase in the Motor Fuel Tax, (gas tax) statewide and/or a local option for Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, HB 6029, SB 6009
- Increase in the Sales and Use Tax, statewide and/or a local option for Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads
- Adding tolls, SB 6006, ...SB 6007SB 6009
- Establishing a Statewide Transient Occupancy Tax HB 6029, SB 6009
- Increase the Grantor’s Tax HB 6029
- Increase in the vehicle registration fee HB 6029
- Increase in the Motor Vehicle titling tax, SB 6009SB 6010
- Privatization of ABC stores, (any savings to the Commonwealth would go to funding transportation.) HB 6036
For a complete list of bills (click here) http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?083+lst+ALL
With the broad range of tax options on the table it brings to mind a saying, “don’t tax me, don’t tax thee, tax the man behind the tree!” For each of the options offered there are supporters and opponents. There are some who believe that better management and allocation of existing transportation tax dollars is needed. There are those who believe that you can’t pave your way out of the transportation problem. There are those who believe any new monies should go to alternative modes of transportation. There are three components that most people agree on; (1) Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads have a transportation crisis, (2) maintenance of existing roads in the Commonwealth is critical and (3) finding a long term solution will take a bipartisan effort that allocates existing funds appropriately, manages the funds needed to maintain the Commonwealth’s road system and create solutions for a long term transportation fix.
It is difficult to find a retailer who is not faced with rising cost of goods, fuel surcharges on delivers, employees who are finding it more difficult to keep fuel in their vehicles and who are willing to support a tax increase to fund transportation.
As retailers in the Commonwealth you have a voice at the General Assembly, the Virginia Retail Federation, the lobby arm of the Retail Merchants Association and the Retail Alliance of Hampton Roads, let us hear what you would offer as a solution to the Transportation funding issue by calling George Peyton at 662-5505 or e-mail gpeyton@retailmerchants.com. Back to top
Bills Passed Effective 7/1/08
| Bills | Committee | Last action | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
HB 159 - Albo - Stolen goods; person guilty of larceny if knowledge of property buying or receiving is stolen. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0578) |
03/18/08 |
|
notes : The legislation provides that if a law-enforcement officer tells a person in possession of stolen property that the property is stolen, the person shall be charged with the knowledge that the property is stolen. |
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HB 504 - Hamilton - Health insurance; insurers to offer individual or group exclusive policies or contracts. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0215) |
03/06/08 |
|
notes : This legislation authorizes insurers to offer individual or group exclusive provider policies or contracts, which are insurance policies or contracts that condition the payment of benefits on the use of preferred providers. The insurer is required to provide an option in group contracts whereby each enrollee may, at no additional cost to the group contract holder, may select a benefit for preferred and nonpreferred providers. |
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HB 547 - Nixon - Unemployment compensation; maximum weekly benefit. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0725) |
04/14/08 |
|
notes : This legislation increases the wages an employee must have earned in the two highest earnings quarters of his base period in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits from $2,700 to $3,000. The measure also increases the maximum weekly unemployment compensation benefit from $363 to $378 for claims effective on or after July 6, 2008. |
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HB 548 - Nixon - Alcoholic mixed beverages; holder of license to sell and serve dessert wine. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0172) |
03/05/08 |
|
notes : This legislation allows the holder of a limited mixed beverage restaurant license to sell and serve wine and beer as a privilege of the license. |
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HB 579 - Cosgrove - Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemptions include compensation to dealers. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0488) |
03/14/08 |
|
notes : This legislation modifies the current formula that compensates dealers with a percentage of the sales and use tax they collect by including the local sales and use tax collected in the Northern Virginia Transportation District and the Hampton Roads Transportation District on motor vehicle repair services. |
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HB 694 - Armstrong - Alcoholic beverage control; wine and beer tastings by gourmet shop licensees |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0179) |
03/05/08 |
|
notes : This legislation allows gourmet shop licensees to sell or give samples of wine or beer at tastings sponsored by the licensee for its customers for on-premises consumption. Additionally, with the consent of the licensee, farm wineries, wineries, and breweries may participate in tastings held by licensees authorized to conduct tastings, including the pouring of samples to any person to whom alcoholic beverages may be lawfully sold |
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HB 1075 - Suit - Alcoholic beverage control; powers and duties of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0513) |
03/17/08 |
|
notes : This legislation requires the ABC Board to adopt regulations allowing an on-premises licensee to reduce the length of any suspension or reduce the amount of any civil penalty if the licensee can demonstrate that it provided certified alcohol server training, including the Serve Safe Alcohol training through the National Restaurant Association, to its employees. |
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HB 1229 - Vanderhye - Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemptions include WaterSense qualified products. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0554) |
03/17/08 |
|
notes : This legislation adds WaterSense products and additional Energy Star products to the Energy Star products sales tax exemption and a second four-day period when certain such products are exempt from the sales and use tax. Currently, the Energy Star products tax holiday is during the month of October and this legislation places the second one in April. It also exempts such products that are purchased for business use, not just personal use |
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HB 1239 - Saxman - Gourmet shop licenses; licensee shall maintain certain amount of cheeses and gourmet food monthly. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0192) |
03/05/08 |
|
notes : This legislation requires the licensee to maintain each year an average monthly inventory and sales volume of at least $1,000 in cheeses and gourmet food. |
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HB 1298 - Frederick - Contractors; shall not knowingly employ unauthorized alien. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0598) |
03/18/08 |
|
notes : This legislation requires that all public bodies shall provide in every written contract that the contractor does not, and shall not during the performance of the contract for goods and services in the Commonwealth, knowingly employ an unauthorized alien as defined in the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. |
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HB 1311 - Byron - Credit reports; authorizes consumer to freeze access thereto. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0496) |
03/14/08 |
|
notes : There were 8 House bills dealing with consumer credit freeze, all bills have now been rolled into HB1311. HB1311 was introduced at the request of the financial industry representatives. It was felt that a bill drafted by industry would satisfy the demand to provide consumer credit freeze and include those tools needed by industry. The bill authorizes any consumer to freeze access to his credit report. If a consumer has placed a freeze on his credit report, a consumer reporting agency is prohibited from releasing the credit report, or any information in it, without the consumer%92s express authorization. The measure provides a means by which a consumer can release his report, permanently, temporarily, or to a specific third party. Certain disclosures are exempt from the freeze. A fee of up to $10 may be charged for establishing or lifting a freeze, except identity theft victims are not required to pay a fee except for a temporary lifting of the freeze within 15 minutes of receipt of certain electronic requests. A person who willfully fails to comply with the requirements is liable to a consumer for actual damages of between $100 and $1,000, punitive damages, and reasonable attorney fees. A person who negligently fails to comply with the requirements is liable to a consumer for actual damages and reasonable attorney fees. |
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HB 1399 - Scott, E.T. - Alcoholic beverage control; farm wineries. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0194) |
03/05/08 |
|
notes : Permits the transfer between licensed wineries or farm wineries of fresh fruit or agricultural products for the purpose of manufacturing, blending, processing, cellaring, or bottling wine. The bill provides that these transfers can occur without a wholesaler and the wine may be sold at retail or wholesale. The bill requires complete and accurate records to be kept of these transfers. |
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HB 1453 - Nutter - Transient occupancy tax; allows all 34 counties listed in statute to impose. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0230) |
03/06/08 |
|
notes : Allows all 34 counties listed in the statute to impose up to a five percent transient occupancy tax with any excess over two percent to be designated and spent solely for tourism, marketing of tourism, or initiatives that, as determined after consulting the local tourism industry organizations, attract travelers to the locality. Under current law, 15 of the counties were not required to consult with local tourism industry organizations |
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HB 1562 - Scott, J.M. - Alcoholic beverage control; allows transfer of ABC license for purchaser of a licensed premises. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0453) |
03/14/08 |
|
notes : Allows for the transfer of an ABC license upon application by a bona fide purchaser of a licensed premises under certain conditions. Bona fide purchasers whose license transfer application is granted by the Board shall, at the time for renewal of the license, meet all of the requirements for initial licensure. The bill provides that the ABC Board may not grant a license transfer to an applicant against whom there is pending in the courts or before the Board a charge for violation of the provisions of this title or Board regulations. Additionally, the Board may refuse to grant a license transfer for such causes as are specified in § 4.1-222 |
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SB 272 - Deeds - Food establishments; inspection of preparation, exception for private homes. |
(H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0459) |
03/14/08 |
notes : Exempts food preparations in private homes from inspections by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services if the food: (i) is sold to an individual for his own consumption; (ii) carries the label "NOT FOR RESALE%97PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION"; and (iii) does not require a license for production or sale. |
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SB 576 - Saslaw - Credit reports; authorizes consumer to freeze access thereto. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0480) |
03/14/08 |
|
notes : The bill authorizes any consumer to freeze access to his credit report. If a consumer has placed a freeze on his credit report, a consumer reporting agency is prohibited from releasing the credit report, or any information in it, without the consumer%92s express authorization. The measure provides a means by which a consumer can release his report, permanently, temporarily, or to a specific third party. Certain disclosures are exempt from the freeze. A fee of up to $10 may be charged for establishing or lifting a freeze, except identity theft victims are not required to pay a fee except for a temporary lifting of the freeze within 15 minutes of receipt of certain electronic requests. A person who willfully fails to comply with the requirements is liable to a consumer for actual damages of between $100 and $1,000, punitive damages, and reasonable attorney fees. A person who negligently fails to comply with the requirements is liable to a consumer for actual damages and reasonable attorney fees. |
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SB 577 - Saslaw - Trademarks and service marks; registration and protection, penalties. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0759) |
04/14/08 |
|
notes : Expands the scope of laws protecting trademarks and service marks to include such marks registered with the federal government and makes it unlawful to reproduce, counterfeit, or colorably imitate a registered mark and apply it to patches, fabric, stickers, badges, emblems, medallions, charms, boxes, containers, cans, cases, handbags, documentation, packaging, or other components with the intent to sell or advertise for sale such goods or services. The penalties for violations are increased. Violations are punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor unless the offense involves possession of 100 or more identical counterfeit registered marks or such items valued at $200 or more, in which case it is a Class 6 felony. |
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SB 618 - Stolle - Petit larceny; person who is convicted for second time must undergo substance abuse screening. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0762) |
04/14/08 |
|
notes : Provides that a person who is convicted for the second time of petit larceny must undergo substance abuse screening as part of the sentence if the sentence includes probation supervision by a community-based probation services agency. |
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SB 635 - Ticer - Alcoholic beverage control; alcohol content in prepared foods. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0629) |
03/18/08 |
|
notes : Prohibits the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board from prohibiting an on-premises restaurant licensee from using alcoholic beverages that the licensee otherwise is authorized to purchase and possess for the purposes of preparing and selling for on-premises consumption food products with a final alcohol content of more than one-half of one percent by volume, as long as such food products are sold and consumed by persons who are 21 years of age or older. |
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SB 714 - Howell - Petroleum products franchises; rights of dealers upon sale or assignment of franchise agreement. |
(G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0837) |
04/14/08 |
|
notes : This legislation prohibits a franchisor that owns a marketing premises that it leases to a petroleum products dealer or owns a leasehold interest in premises that are occupied by a dealer from selling, transferring, or assigning the franchisor%92s interest in the premises to another person unless the franchisor has first either (i) made a bona fide offer to sell, transfer, or assign to the dealer the franchisor%92s interest in the premises or (ii) if applicable, offered to the dealer a right of first refusal of any bona fide offer acceptable to the franchisor made by another person or party to purchase the franchisor%92s interest in the premises. |
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SCC Sets Fuel Rate for Dominion Virginia Power
Richmond—The State Corporation Commission (SCC) has approved a new fuel rate for Dominion Virginia Power that will increase an average residential bill by more than 18 percent. The increase will become effective for electricity used on and after July 1, 2008. The SCC also took several actions in order to minimize future fuel rate increases.
The SCC’s order allows Dominion Virginia Power to raise its fuel factor to 3.893 cents per kilowatt-hour (¢/kWh) from 2.232 ¢/kWh. A residential customer using 1,000 kWh in a month will see an increase of $16.61 on a monthly bill.
Dominion Virginia Power said the increase was necessary to cover the higher costs of fuel used to generate electricity. Virginia law entitles the company to recover its prudently incurred fuel costs. The fuel rate is the portion of the customer’s bill that is designed to ensure dollar for dollar recovery of such costs from customers.
The SCC accepted a stipulation that was agreed to by the company, the Attorney General, and other parties, including industrial customers. The fuel rate taking effect July 1 is dependent on the accuracy of forecasted fuel prices. Any over or under recovery that is likely to occur over the next 12 months will be factored into next year’s fuel rate adjustment.
The SCC also directed that specific steps be taken to ensure that Dominion Virginia Power minimizes its fuel costs – and, thus, its future fuel rate increases – as much as legally possible.
During the next year, the company expects to purchase almost $600 million worth of fuel from its unregulated affiliates. To keep customers’ fuel rates as low as possible, the SCC directed an audit to ensure that the company pays whichever is lower – the affiliates’ actual cost of such fuel or the market price.
The SCC also required reports to show the company is making as many off-system sales as reasonably possible whenever it has more generation than it needs to service its Virginia customers. Virginia law requires 75 percent of the margins from these sales to be credited to Virginia ratepayers. The credit reduction is directly applied to the customer’s fuel rate.
Finally, the SCC directed the company to provide a detailed explanation of its current risk management program for obtaining oil, natural gas, and wholesale electricity to show that it is reasonably minimizing such costs.
Back to topBudget Billing Is Now Available for Businesses, Nonprofits
What a great idea!
Levelized billing is not just for residential customers any more. Now it is available to business customers, too.
Beginning July 1, eligible small and medium-sized businesses and most nonprofit customers can enroll in our new Business Advantage program, which evens out your electric payments throughout the year.
A desire to help manage the impact of higher fuel costs prompted the expanded program. After you enroll, we review your plan periodically and your budget amount may change based on your usage, rates and the weather.
Eligible customers can sign up until October 1, at which time enrollment will close. The program initially will run for two years. To enroll, simply pay the budget amount on your bill.
Back to topMany Nonprescription Drugs are Tax Exempt
As a reminder to retail stores, pharmacies and employees, many nonprescription drugs are tax exempt as outlined in the following Virginia Department of Taxation bulletin:
| Document Number: | 98-98 |
|---|---|
| Bulletin Number: | VTB 98-4 |
| Tax Type: | Retail Sales and Use Tax |
| Brief Description: | Exemption for nonprescription drugs and proprietary medicines |
| Topics: | Exemptions; Taxability of Persons and Transactions |
| Date Issued: | 05/15/1998 |
Virginia Department of Taxation
May 15, 1998
Retail Sales and Use Tax: Exemption for Nonprescription Drugs
and Proprietary Medicines
Effective July 1, 1998, nonprescription drugs and proprietary medicines will be exempt from the retail sales and use tax. "Nonprescription drugs" include any substances or mixture of substances containing medicines or drugs for which no prescription is required and which are generally sold for internal or topical use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in human beings. This exemption is also applicable to "proprietary medicines" which is any nonprescription drug sold to the general public under the brand name or trade name of the manufacturer and which does not contain any controlled substance or marijuana.
The exemption for nonprescription drugs and proprietary medicines does not apply to:
- cosmetics—articles applied to the body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering the appearance (includes makeup, body lotions, cold creams, and hair restoration products);
- toilet articles—articles advertised or held out for sale for grooming purposes (includes soaps, toothpastes, hair sprays, shaving products, colognes, deodorants, and mouthwashes);
- food products and supplements—including those classified as such by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (includes herbal teas, drinks, pills, or supplements, diet aids, and weight control preparations);
- vitamins and mineral concentrates sold as dietary supplements or adjuncts (except when sold pursuant to a written prescription by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant); and
- devices—includes contraceptive items, birth control preparations, and testing kits. Diabetic testing kits will continue to be exempt under a separate exemption for specific medical equipment.
This exemption is applicable regardless of the nature of the purchaser. Thus, nonprescription drugs and proprietary medicines may be purchased tax exempt by individuals, physicians, medical facilities, and all other entities. Retail dealers making sales of nonprescription drugs and proprietary medicines must keep records segregating purchases and sales of exempt items.
In addition, effective July 1, 1998, samples of nonprescription drugs and proprietary medicines distributed free of charge by the manufacturer are exempt from the sales and use tax. Currently, pharmaceutical manufacturers are subject to the use tax, based on the cost price, of samples distributed in Virginia by their salespersons.
Tax Status of Various Types of Nonprescription Drugs and Proprietary Medicines
Examples of taxable and exempt nonprescription drugs and proprietary medicines are listed below. This list is intended as a guide and is not intended to be all inclusive.
Exempt items
- Acne products
- Alcohol, rubbing
- Alcohol swabs
- Allergy relief products
- Analgesics
- Anesthetics
- Antacids
- Antibiotic ointments
- Antifungals
- Antihistamines
- Antimalarials
- Antinauseants
- Antiseptics
- Aspirin
- Asthma preparations
- Baby powder (medicated)
- Bee sting relievers
- Benzoin
- Boric acid ointment
- Burn remedies
- Calamine lotion
- Camphor
- Castor oil
- Cathartics
- Cod liver oil
- Cold capsules and remedies
- Cold/canker sore preparations
- Contact lens lubricating and wetting solutions
- Cough and cold items, cough drops, cough syrups
- Dandruff and seborrhea preparations
- Decongestants
- Diarrhea aids and remedies
- Digestive aids
- Disinfectant (for use in humans)
- Diuretics
- Earache/earwax removal preparations
- Eczema preparations
- Epsom salts
- Expectorants
- Eye drops, lotions, ointments and washes for healing, treatment or therapeutic use
- Fever blister aids
- First aid healing agents, cleaners
- Fluoride rinses and antiseptic dental washes
- Foot care products for treatment of infections (callous removers, medicated corn plasters, ingrown toenail preparations, athlete's foot treatments)
- Fungicides (for use on humans)
- Glucose tablets
- Glycerine products intended for medical use
- Hay fever aid products
- Headache relief aid products
- Hemorrhoidal treatments
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Ibuprofen
- Insect bite and sting preparations
- Iodine, tincture of
- Itch, rash relievers
- Laxatives
- Lice products used to kill lice that infect humans
- Liniments
- Lip balms, ices and salves (medicated)
- Lotions (medicated)
- Menstrual cramp relievers
- Mercurochrome
- Milk of Magnesia
- Mineral oil
- Motion sickness remedies
- Mouthwashes (antiseptic)
- Muscle ache relievers
- Nasal drops and sprays
- Nicotine supplements (that treat nicotine withdrawal symptoms)
- Oil of wintergreen
- Pain relievers (oral or topical)
- Parasiticides (for humans)
- Peroxide (medicinal)
- Poison ivy and oak preparations
- Powder (medicated)
- Rectal preparations
- Shampoos (medicated)
- Shaving products (medicated)
- Sinus relievers
- Sitz bath solutions
- Skin irritation relievers (medicated)
- Sleep aids (inducers)
- Soap - germicidal, surgical, therapeutic (used for medical treatment)
- Styptic pencils
- Sunburn lotions
- Sunscreen (containing SPF protection)
- Suppositories, except contraceptives
- Teething preparations
- Throat lozenges (medicated)
- Tooth desensitizers
- Toothache relievers
- Upset stomach relievers
- Vaginal infection remedies
- Wart removers
- Witch hazel
- Worming treatments (humans)
- Zinc oxide ointments
Taxable items
- Adhesive bandages, dressings and cotton
- Adhesive removers
- Adhesive tape
- Appetite suppressants
- Bath crystals, milks, oils, and powder
- Birth control preparations
- Breath fresheners and sweeteners
- Bubble bath
- Bunions, corn pads (nonmedicated)
- Cleaning creams and lotions
- Contact lens cleaning solutions and disinfectants
- Cosmetics
- Cotton applicators, rolls, balls and swabs
- Cuticle softener, removers
- Denture adhesives, cleaners, preparations
- Deodorants, antiperspirants
- Depilatories
- Dental floss
- Diet aids
- Dietary foods, supplements and substitutes
- Distilled water
- Exfoliants
- Hair restoration products
- Herbal teas, drinks, pills, or powder supplements
- Household disinfectants and insecticides
- Infant formula
- Mouthwashes (other than antiseptic)
- Pet medical supplies
- Pet medicines
- Petroleum jelly
- Prophylactics
- Pumice powder
- Saline solution
- Sanitary napkins, tampons and similar items
- Shampoos (nonmedicated)
- Shaving products (nonmedicated)
- Skin bleaches
- Soaps, generally
- Stimulants
- Suntan lotion (without SPF protection)
- Talcum powder
- Testing kits (except diabetic test kits)
- Thermometers
- Toothpastes, polishes, powders, whiteners
- Vitamins and mineral supplements
- Wax
- Weight control preparations
- Wrinkle removing and concealing preparations
Background
The 1990 General Assembly passed Senate Bill 317 (Chapter 117, 1990 Acts of Assembly) to provide an exemption from the sales and use tax for nonprescription drugs and proprietary medicines purchased for the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in human beings. The exemption was originally to be effective July 1, 1992. However, the effective date has been deferred every two years since 1992, with the last action passed in 1996, when the exemption's effective date was deferred to July 1, 1998. Subsequently, no action has been taken by the General Assembly to defer the effective date again; therefore, the exemption is effective July 1, 1998.
The 1997 General Assembly passed House Bill 1665 (Chapter 696, 1997 Acts of Assembly) which expanded this exemption to samples of nonprescription drugs and proprietary medicines distributed free of charge by the manufacturer, including packaging materials and constituent elements and ingredients. The effective date of this exemption coincides with the effective date of the exemption for nonprescription drugs and proprietary medicines.
For additional information: If there are any questions about whether or not a particular item qualifies for exemption, please contact the Office of Customer Services, Virginia Department of Taxation, (804) 367-8037.Federal Issues*
* © 2007. NRF Enterprises, Inc. used with permission.
Minimum Wage Increase Effective July 24, 2008
http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/flsa/ Back to topWash. retailer prepares for ban on high-phosphorus detergent
Dishwashing detergents containing more than 0.5% phosphorus will be pulled from shelves in Washington state by 2010 as part of a new statewide ban. Haggen, a local retailer, has dropped several Cascade and Electrasol lines, and is adding more low-phosphorus brands such as Seventh Generation. The Bellingham Herald (Wash.) (6/17)
Back to topNew handicapped accessibility regs proposed
The U.S. Justice Department has proposed regulations that would alter standards governing handicapped accessibility to buildings and other public spaces. The updated Americans with Disability Act standards would apply to new construction and alterations as well as to existing facilities. American City Business Journals/Charlotte (6/27)
Back to topNetherlands begins enforcement of smoking ban
A Dutch ban on smoking in bars and restaurants went into effect Wednesday -- even cracking down on "coffee shops" where marijuana smoking had been welcome. Bars held parties Monday night to mark the end of the indoor-smoking era in that country. Detroit Free Press/Associated Press (7/1)Back to top
NYC to begin calorie-count fines on July 19
An appeals court has refused to postpone enforcement of New York City's new calorie-count rule. The city will begin fining chain restaurants that don't post the information on menus by next month. The Seattle Times (6/18)
Back to topNYC adds artificial trans fats to the ban
Starting July 1, New York City's ban on artificial trans fats will apply to baked goods, frozen foods, cannoli and doughnuts, in addition to fry oils and spreads, for which it was implemented last year. USA TODAY/Associated Press (6/16)
Back to topLinks
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- 2008 Legislative Session
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Contact:
George Peyton
(804) 662-5500
Fax: (804) 662-5507
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