HB4212 Summary

• Amends the Cigarette Tax Act to increase penalties for possession or sale of contraband cigarettes, with Class A misdemeanor for 100 or fewer packages becoming a Class 4 felony for subsequent offenses within 12 months.

• Establishes new penalties for retailers knowingly possessing counterfeit-stamped cigarettes (Class 2 felony) or unstamped cigarettes with intent to sell (Class 4 felony).

• Amends the Cigarette Use Tax Act with similar enhanced penalties for unstamped cigarette possession and sales, including a Class A misdemeanor escalating to Class 4 felony for repeat offenses within 12 months.

• Modifies the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Minors Act to impose higher fines and community service hours for minors violating tobacco laws and establishes that violations of subsection (d) regarding non-minor-related tobacco sales are petty offenses with maximum $50 fines.

• Requires retailers without employee training programs on minimum-age tobacco laws to pay escalating fines ($200-$800) based on violation frequency within a 24-month period.