Sub. H.B. No. 566 Summary

• Amends Ohio cigarette minimum pricing laws by modifying definitions of "cost to the retailer" and "cost to the wholesaler" to establish baseline pricing requirements.

• Prohibits retailers from selling cigarettes below cost with intent to injure competitors, and prevents retailers from inducing wholesalers to sell below the wholesaler's cost or provide unauthorized concessions.

• Prohibits wholesalers from selling cigarettes below cost or offering concessions with intent to injure competitors, unless the wholesaler demonstrates to the tax commissioner that their actual cost is lower than the statutory definition.

• Creates new section 1333.13 allowing one wholesaler to sell to another wholesaler without including the full cost markup, provided the purchasing wholesaler complies with cost requirements upon resale to retailers.

• Establishes exemptions from minimum pricing requirements for isolated transactions, clearance sales, damaged goods, business liquidations, and court-ordered sales with prior tax commissioner approval.