S.B. 146 Summary

• Authorizes the State Fire Council to use revenues from the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program special fund to support broader council duties including fire data collection, federal grant administration, and fire safety education programs.

• Establishes specific testing procedures for reduced ignition propensity cigarettes requiring initial testing of 50 packs per brand/style, with 25% or greater failure rate triggering follow-up testing of 40 additional packs.

• Allows manufacturers to appeal test failure results within 10 days and requires the State Fire Council to conduct an administrative hearing and render a decision within 30 days of receiving an appeal.

• Permits civil penalties for manufacturers whose cigarettes fail both the initial 50-pack test (25% failure rate) and the follow-up 40-pack test (25% or greater failure rate).

• Expands the special fund to support hiring additional State Fire Council personnel and funding community fire education, youth safety programs, and senior residential smoke alarm installation initiatives, effective June 18, 2050.