CALLING ALL VAPERS:

It was just announced this afternoon at 4pm that two bills, SB 810 (2nd committee hearing) and SB 1394 (1st committee hearing) are both on the agenda for the this Monday’s (2/3/20) Innovation, Industry, and Technology Committee meeting, which begins at 1:30pm in Toni Jennings Committee Room, 110 Senate Building.

SB 810: Is an artificial categorization of vape products as tobacco products. This is Senator David Simmons’ first step to trying to destroy the vape industry. This bill places restrictions on online sales/delivery, it will lead to taxes and licensing requirements. Again, in last week’s Health Committee meeting he said “this is a great first step”.

Here’s his “step number two”:

SB 1394: This bill has an industry crushing 85% wholesale tax, you read that right, 85%. It’s broken down to a 60% surcharge and a 25% tobacco tax. That’s right Florida shops, your costs will go up by 85% if this passes. Effective date will be July 1, 2020. BTW, this tobacco tax excludes cigarettes and cigars, actual tobacco products…

Are you mad yet? Here’s the resources to do something about it:

Here’s the list of committee members with all of their contact info. Below that I will put in a group of twitter handles so you can copy and paste them to send group tweets to all committee members.

Please reach out to these committee members and let them know how this will impact your life and that it’s just one step closer to a black market.

Chair: Sen. Wilton Simpson (R)
(850) 487-5010
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Email: [email protected]

Vice Chair: Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto (R)
(850) 487-5027
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Email: [email protected]

Sen. Rob Bradley (R)
(850) 487-5005
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Email: [email protected]

Sen. Jeff Brandes (R)
(850) 487-5024
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Email: [email protected]

Sen. Oscar Braynon (D)
(850) 487-5035
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Email: [email protected]

Sen. Gary M Farmer Jr. (D)
(850) 487-5034
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Email: [email protected] (email for his aid)

Sen. Audrey Gibson (D)
(850) 487-5006
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Email: [email protected]

Sen. Travis Hutson (R)
(850) 487-5007
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Email: [email protected]

Sen. Kathleen Passidomo (R)
(850) 487-5028
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Email: [email protected]

Feel free to copy and past the following twitter handles if you’d like to send a message to the entire group:

@WiltonSimpson @lizbethkb @Rob_Bradley @JeffreyBrandes @oscarjb2 @FarmerForFLSen @SenAudrey2eet @TravisJHutson @Kathleen4SWFL