b'2019 Post WPMAEXPOUTAH Petroleum Marketers & Retailers Association (UPMRA) ReportWWW.SW-EXPO.COM State Legislative HighlightsUPMRAUTwith 10 days to goThe Utah State legislative session began on JanuaryA bill to increase Electronic Cigarette 28 and ended March 14, 2019,with me writing this reportand Other Nicotine Product excise U AS S O I AT I C O E WE EL POF OOD &F THE TEXAS D R NBY on March 4 th , so some changes are expected.taxes to 86% of the manufacturersUtah Update sales price, has been held in theIn late February, UPMRA held another successful Day-on-the- House Revenue & Taxation Standing Hill lunch meeting, and we were honored to have Rep. RobertCommittee since Feb 15, awaiting Spendlove and Rep. Tim Quinn, the Chair and Vice-chair ofCommittee action. John Hill the House Revenue & Taxation Committee and the major HouseRegarding the 3.2% beer issue, SBUPMRA Executive Director,co-sponsors of the Legislatures major tax reform/modernizationUtah PetroleumlegislationHB 441address our group. Sen. Don Ipson also132 was heard on the Senate FloorMarketers & Retailersattended and provided a general legislative overview, and Rep.and passed to the House on a 27-2-0AssociationJen Dailey-Provost came to discuss her HB 274, dealing withvote a week ago. The Speaker of the the sale of flavored tobacco products. House does not like the bill so it will be interesting to see whether he even The Governor and Legislative Leaders made tax reform the bigallows the bill to go to a standing committee for a hearing. Off-lift for 2019, and they appear to have succeeded in expandingpremise Beer Retailers now have an extended application period May 15May 16 the sales and use tax to include a tax on most services, includingto May 1, 2019 to apply for the new license, but with additional EXHIBIT HALL HOURS 4 - 6:30 pm 11 am - 4 pm professional services, plus a repeal of 15 current sales and useapplication fees. The additional late fees are $150 for applica-tax exemptions, and the imposition of a 1% excise tax on healthtions filed by April 15, 2019 and $300 for applications filed by insurance premiums, and a small tax on real estate transfers.May 1, 2019. The House Revenue & Taxation Committee voted the billA Concurrent Resolution Supporting Renewable and Sustain-(HB441) out with a 12-2 margin, and two days later it is ex- able Energy Options to Promote Rural Economic Development pected to pass the House and be sent to the Senate, where therepassed, that supports the development of wind, solar, hydrogen, is work to be done on how to deal with business-to-businesssmall conduit hydroelectric, and geothermal energy in rural transactions. Rep. Quinn has emphasized that the Legislatureareas and supports the export of those Utah-produced renew-will spend the next 9 months further studying the ramificationsable energy sources to other states. of the bill and is prepared to modify the legislation if they deter- Hydrogen Fuel Production is heading to Utah, with funds from mine changes should be made. The bill currently has a 1/1/2020the Permanent Community Impact Fund and the High Cost effective date.Infrastructure Development Tax Credit Act to be used for such THERES A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING.With respect to HB 274 and the sale of flavored tobacco prod- things as the construction of a plant or other facility, including ucts in C-stores, Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost told UPMRAretail, for the production and distribution of hydrogen fuel that members at our lunch that although she would prefer that nois used for transportation purposes. flavored tobacco products be sold in C-stores and grocery stores,Another Concurrent Resolution encouraging the purchase of she doesnt want to unduly hurt small C-store operators, so sheTier 3 gasoline passed both houses, as did a Concurrent Resolu-amended her bill on the House Floor to send only e-cigarettestion encouraging Utah refiners to manufacture Tier 3 gasoline to to specialty tobacco retailers, and the bill passed the House onimprove air quality.a 57-17 vote. The Retail Merchants Association doesnt like the bill either, and had expected another floor amendment to beBad Check Fee Amendments were also passed that increase the made prior to it moving out of the House that would have furthercollection costs that can be charged for bad checks from $20 to $35.reduced the impact of the bill. In speaking with the Retail Mer-chants Associations lobbyist, they intend to hold Rep. Dailey- Sign up for UPMRA E-news by sending a request to: Provost to her promise of making a broader C-Store amendment. johnhill@upmra.com.The bill heads to a Senate Committee for further review.Browse the interactive oorplan online:Tobacco Age Amendments are being pushed this year by Rep.Zermatt Resort to Host www.sw-expo.com/oorplan Steve Eliason, who wants to tier the minimum age for obtain- 2019 Convention & Trade Showing, possessing, using, providing, or furnishing of tobacco prod- On September 11-13, the UPMRA Convention & ucts, paraphernalia, and under certain circumstances, electronic smoking devices. The bill moves the legal age from 19 to 20,Trade Showis returning to the enchanting Zermatt Resort in then later to 21 years of age. The bill would take effect on JulyMidway, Utah with golf across the street on Friday morning at THE ULTIMATE C-STORE & FUEL MARKETING EVENT! 1, 2020. The bill passed out of the House on a 47-19-9 vote.Crater Springs Golf Course (formerly The Homestead). continued on page 52WPMA News / Spring 201951WN19 Spring 49-64.indd 51 3/27/19 10:43 AM'