veeto
Home
Bills
Influence
Feedback
hamburger
    Privacy PolicyResources
    © 2025 Veeto.
    AB-957
    Health & Public Health

    Cigarette and tobacco products: retail sale: pharmacies.

    Engrossed
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Prohibits all pharmacies in California from selling cigarettes and tobacco products.
    • Blocks the state from issuing tobacco retail licenses to any location containing a pharmacy.
    • Makes violations of the pharmacy tobacco sales ban a criminal misdemeanor.

    Summary

    Assembly Member Ortega, along with a bipartisan group of coauthors, proposes prohibiting California pharmacies from selling cigarettes and tobacco products through amendments to the state's pharmacy and tobacco licensing laws.

    The legislation creates a dual enforcement mechanism by directly barring pharmacies from tobacco sales and preventing the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration from issuing tobacco retail licenses to pharmacies or retail locations containing pharmacies. Under current law, pharmacies can obtain licenses to sell tobacco products if they meet standard retailer requirements. The bill maintains existing license denial criteria for other retailers, including prior license suspensions, certain felony convictions, and lack of required permits.

    Retailers denied licenses retain the right to petition for reconsideration within 30 days, with opportunities for both written appeals and oral hearings before the licensing board. The bill classifies violations of the pharmacy sales prohibition as misdemeanors under the Pharmacy Law, establishing criminal penalties for non-compliance. While the legislation creates new local enforcement obligations, it specifies that the state bears no requirement to reimburse local agencies for associated costs.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    [07-07-2025] hearing: Motion to Reconsider. [Reconsideration Granted.]
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Revenue and Taxation]
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 957 Ortega Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass
    Assembly Governmental Organization Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Governmental Organization Hearing
    Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Governmental Organization]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Roger NielloR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Steven ChoiR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Bob ArchuletaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tom UmbergD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 17 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Roger NielloR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Steven ChoiR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Bob ArchuletaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tom UmbergD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Susan RubioD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Josh BeckerD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Akilah Weber PiersonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Dawn AddisD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Damon ConnollyD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Liz OrtegaD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Angelique AshbyD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Robert GarciaD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Jesse ArreguinD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Suzette ValladaresR
    Senator
    Committee Member

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Liz Ortega
    Liz OrtegaD
    California State Assembly Member
    Co-Authors
    Dawn Addis
    Dawn AddisD
    California State Assembly Member
    Josh Becker
    Josh BeckerD
    California State Senator
    Damon Connolly
    Damon ConnollyD
    California State Assembly Member
    Robert Garcia
    Robert GarciaD
    California State Assembly Member
    Susan Rubio
    Susan RubioD
    California State Senator
    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    July 7, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    101011PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Prohibits all pharmacies in California from selling cigarettes and tobacco products.
    • Blocks the state from issuing tobacco retail licenses to any location containing a pharmacy.
    • Makes violations of the pharmacy tobacco sales ban a criminal misdemeanor.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Liz Ortega
    Liz OrtegaD
    California State Assembly Member
    Co-Authors
    Dawn Addis
    Dawn AddisD
    California State Assembly Member
    Josh Becker
    Josh BeckerD
    California State Senator
    Damon Connolly
    Damon ConnollyD
    California State Assembly Member
    Robert Garcia
    Robert GarciaD
    California State Assembly Member
    Susan Rubio
    Susan RubioD
    California State Senator

    Summary

    Assembly Member Ortega, along with a bipartisan group of coauthors, proposes prohibiting California pharmacies from selling cigarettes and tobacco products through amendments to the state's pharmacy and tobacco licensing laws.

    The legislation creates a dual enforcement mechanism by directly barring pharmacies from tobacco sales and preventing the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration from issuing tobacco retail licenses to pharmacies or retail locations containing pharmacies. Under current law, pharmacies can obtain licenses to sell tobacco products if they meet standard retailer requirements. The bill maintains existing license denial criteria for other retailers, including prior license suspensions, certain felony convictions, and lack of required permits.

    Retailers denied licenses retain the right to petition for reconsideration within 30 days, with opportunities for both written appeals and oral hearings before the licensing board. The bill classifies violations of the pharmacy sales prohibition as misdemeanors under the Pharmacy Law, establishing criminal penalties for non-compliance. While the legislation creates new local enforcement obligations, it specifies that the state bears no requirement to reimburse local agencies for associated costs.

    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    [07-07-2025] hearing: Motion to Reconsider. [Reconsideration Granted.]
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Revenue and Taxation]
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 957 Ortega Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass
    Assembly Governmental Organization Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Governmental Organization Hearing
    Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Governmental Organization]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    July 7, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    101011PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Roger NielloR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Steven ChoiR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Bob ArchuletaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tom UmbergD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 17 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Roger NielloR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Steven ChoiR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Bob ArchuletaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tom UmbergD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Susan RubioD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Josh BeckerD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Akilah Weber PiersonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Dawn AddisD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Damon ConnollyD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Liz OrtegaD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Angelique AshbyD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Robert GarciaD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Jesse ArreguinD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Suzette ValladaresR
    Senator
    Committee Member