ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 1071 with a vote 161 to 3, showing tremendous bipartisan support for the measure. Sponsored by State Representative Penny Houston (R-Nashville), HB 1071 would implement measures to decrease “black market” cigarette and cigar sales in Georgia.
“Black market tobacco sales create unfair competition for honest small businesses across the state,” said Rep. Houston. “HB 1071 will crack down on black market tobacco sales, providing a level playing field for those who follow the law and pay taxes.”
HB 1071 eliminates the former lifetime license for retail sales of tobacco, and creates a one-year license for all tobacco merchants. The legislation also allows the Department of Revenue to track tobacco sales, thereby giving law enforcement a vital tool needed to better investigate black market sales throughout the state. HB 1071 also creates penalties for tobacco illegally brought into Georgia. Together, these measures will help deter and combat black market tobacco sales in Georgia and help insure that the proper taxes are collected from all retailers.
For more information on HB 1071, please click here.
Representative Penny Houston represents the citizens of District 170, which includes portions of Berrien, Colquitt, and Cook counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1997, and is currently a Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. She also serves on the Banks & Banking, Budget and Fiscal Oversight, Economic Development & Tourism, and Ways & Means committees.
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