Counties and municipalities can now issue licenses for cigar bars, which are enclosed establishments that sell cigars and must also hold a license for on-sale alcohol, food service, or similar businesses. A cigar bar must have proper ventilation to keep smoke out of non-smoking areas, maintain a humidor, and generate at least 10 percent of its income from cigar sales. County commissioners and city officials will review applications through a public hearing process similar to the one used for regular liquor licenses.
The amendment substantially NARROWS the cigar bar licensing scheme by removing the provision allowing municipalities to issue multiple licenses based on population size (one additional license per 25,000 residents), limiting each municipality to just one cigar bar license, and eliminates the specific ring gauge and filter requirements from the cigar definition while changing reporting requirements from annual Department of Revenue reporting to local record-keeping subject to governing body inspection.
The amendment is purely procedural—it changed the bill from an engrossed version (in-progress legislative format) to an enrolled version (final form ready for the Governor's signature), which involved removing markup notations and formatting changes rather than substantive changes to the bill's content. This shift indicates the bill successfully passed both chambers and is now in its final official form.
Other amendments
Signed by the Governor H.J. 578
Delivered to the Governor H.J. 574
Signed by the President S.J. 528
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 560
House of Representatives Concurred in amendments Passed, YEAS 63, NAYS 4. H.J. 548
Senate Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 28, NAYS 6. S.J. 496
State Affairs Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 8, NAYS 1. S.J. 39
State Affairs Motion to amend S.J. 39
State Affairs Scheduled for hearing
First read in Senate and referred to Senate State Affairs S.J. 232
House of Representatives Do Pass Passed, YEAS 59, NAYS 6. H.J. 266
State Affairs Do Pass Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 1. H.J. 14
State Affairs Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House State Affairs H.J. 179
Prime sponsor · Sen.
R
Prime sponsor · Rep.
R
Concurred in amendments
Do Pass Amended
State Affairs — Do Pass Amended
Do Pass
State Affairs — Do Pass