Sen. Pat Brennan presses to cut proposed $1,000 clerk fine in nicotine bill; committee backs modest increase

Senator Pat Brennan told the Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs committee on March 27 that a proviso in S.498 that raised clerk fines for selling tobacco- or nicotine-related products to underage buyers from $100 to $1,000 stood out to her and prompted a request to scale the increase back.

“All I could think about was the 16‑year‑old valedictorian … she was traumatized,” Senator Pat Brennan said, describing a past shoplifting/possession incident involving a young worker and explaining why she was particularly sensitive to heavy penalties on small retailers. “I couldn't afford $1,000 as the owner of a mom‑and‑pop.”

The committee discussed a set of amendments that would (1) reinstate the bill’s removed provisions for second‑through‑fifth offenses, (2) reduce the proposed first‑offense clerk fine to a modest inflation adjustment (members floated $75–$150, with a working compromise around $100–$150), and (3) remove certain appropriations language and an investigator position from the draft so budgetary implications can be considered separately.

“We're just wanting, I think, particularly with the clerks to be more attentive and appreciate what they're enabling when they sell underage,” the committee chair said, arguing for consequences that also support education and compliance rather than crippling small businesses.

Committee counsel summarized the finance amendment that would (among other technical changes) absorb sponsor adjustments into the finance draft, add or adjust licensing fees, and convert a noncriminal penalty framing. Members noted the bill will be reported out of committee “without recommendation,” meaning the committee is sending the bill forward but not endorsing it in its current form because some provisions (notably appropriations and the scale of penalties) remain disputed.

The committee also discussed enforcement history: members recalled a prior veto tied to weak enforcement language and noted the sponsor and finance amendment attempt to embed more enforcement tools while removing a stand‑alone investigator position.

The chair closed discussion by noting some members felt the amendment represents a workable compromise and that the House will have its own opportunity to modify details as the measure proceeds. No formal floor vote on the full bill was recorded in committee testimony; members signaled agreement on drafting changes and delegated staff to circulate revised language for final review.

What’s next: Committee staff will circulate the revised amendment language incorporating the agreed fee and penalty adjustments; members flagged that appropriations tied to the bill will need separate budgetary action before related fee provisions take effect.