NAMA – State and Local Legislative Update
10/25/16
From NAMA – State and Local Legislative Update
Minneapolis Becomes First City in Minnesota to Require Paid Sick Leave
Effective July 1, 2017, Minneapolis will require most employers to offer paid sick leave to workers. Under the ordinance, employees in workplaces with six or more workers would be allowed to accumulate one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, topping out at 48 hours of accrual each year. The ordinance also applies to delivery drivers or repair people who move into and out of the city during the work day even if their employer is not based in the city or they don’t have a regular workplace in the city. Click here for more information on the ordinance. https://www.jacksonlewis.com/publication/minneapolis-becomes-first-city-minnesota-require-paid-sick-leave
Sugar Sweetened Beverage Taxes on November Ballot in Four Cities
This November, voters in four cities will be voting on proposals to tax sugar sweetened beverages. Three California municipalities – San Francisco, Oakland and Albany, are slated to vote on a soda tax of a penny per ounce. Boulder Colorado could double that if voters OK a 2 cents per ounce tax. So far, only Berkeley, Calif., has enacted such a tax with voter approval, voting in a 1-cent-per-ounce tax in the 2014 election.
City of Philadelphia Holds Hearings on Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax Regulations, Invites Public Comment
On Thursday, October 14, the City of Philadelphia held a hearing to discuss the city’s proposed regulations for the new beverage tax that is scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2017. The tax will add 1.5 cents per ounce to the cost of most sugary and diet beverages. As part of the hearing, the City invited public comment on the proposed regulations to discuss the potential impact on those subject to the tax. Below is an article and a link to the Industry’s comments on the proposed regulations.
For more information, click here. http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20161013_Public_hearing_on_soda_tax_Thursday.html
To view Tri-State’s comments on the proposed sugar-sweetened beverage tax regulations click here http://namavoice.org/uploads/Comments_Re_Proposed_SSBT_Regulations_TriState_FINAL_FILED_VERSION.pdf
Cook County Commission (Illinois) to Consider Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle revealed Thursday her 2017 budget, which includes a penny per ounce beverage tax. The penny-per-ounce tax on sweetened drinks could generate nearly $75 million. According to the proposal, a “sweetened beverage” contains sugar or artificial sweetener, like carbonated soft drinks, fruit beverages that are not 100 percent fruit juice, sports drinks and energy drinks. Water, different kinds of milk and baby formula are not considered sweetened beverages. For more information, click here. http://abc7chicago.com/news/cook-county-board-considers-tax-on-sugary-drinks/1553114/
City Of St. Petersburg Announces Healthy Vending Policies
Through a partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA), the City of St. Petersburg, Florida has announce a plan to improve the city’s food environment through procurement guidelines designed to drive healthier eating habits. The administrative policy requires that all food and beverage in vending machines on city-owned property comply with the AHA’s guidelines for vending by the end of 2017.
For more information, click here. https://www.stpete.org/internal-news-detail_T2_R257.php
State of New Jersey Raises Gas Tax and Lowers Other Taxes
Governor Christie, accepted the first tax increase during his seven years in office. He said he had agreed to raise the gas tax by 23 cents a gallon to replenish the depleted Transportation Trust Fund, which the state uses to pay for improvements to rails, roads and bridges. Along with the two-step drop in the sales tax, the Democrats also accepted a phaseout of the state’s estate tax, an increase in the earned-income tax credit for the working poor and a tax break for veterans. Click here for more information. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/01/nyregion/new-jersey-gas-tax-23-cents.html?_r=1