Bill Text: MI HB5931 | 2025-2026 | 103rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Tobacco: other; cigar bars and tobacco specialty retail stores; modify affidavit submission process for. Amends sec. 12606a of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.12606a).
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 3)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-11 - Referred To Second Reading [HB5931 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2025-HB5931-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL NO. 5931
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled
"Public health code,"
by amending section 12606a (MCL 333.12606a), as amended by 2023 PA 318.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 12606a. (1) A cigar bar in existence on May 1, 2010 that meets the requirements of this section is exempt from the smoking prohibition of section 12603 and may allow smoking on its premises. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), to To qualify for the exemption under this section, the person that owns or operates a cigar bar must file an affidavit with the department on or before the expiration of 30 days after May 1, 2010 and on not later than January 31 of each year after May 1, 2010. The affidavit must be signed by the owner or operator of the cigar bar and must certify that the cigar bar was in existence on May 1, 2010 and that it meets all of the following requirements:
(a) In the 30-day period immediately preceding May 1, 2010, the cigar bar generated 10% or more of its total gross annual income from the on-site sale of cigars and the rental of on-site humidors.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the The cigar bar generates generated 10% or more of its total gross annual income from the on-site sale of cigars and the rental of on-site humidors for each the immediately preceding calendar year. after the calendar year in which the first affidavit is filed under this subsection. If the cigar bar has qualified for the exemption under this section pursuant to subsection (2), the requirement under this subdivision does not include the 3 calendar years immediately preceding the calendar year in which the affidavit under subsection (2) was filed.
(c) The cigar bar is located on premises that are physically separated from any areas of the same or adjacent establishment in which smoking is prohibited under this part or part 129 and where smoke does not infiltrate into those nonsmoking areas. As used in this subdivision, "physically separated" means an area that is enclosed on all sides by any combination of solid walls, windows, or doors that extend from the floor to ceiling.
(d) The cigar bar has installed on its premises an on-site humidor.
(e) The cigar bar prohibits entry to an individual who is less than 21 years of age during the time the cigar bar is open for business.
(f) The cigar bar allows only the smoking of cigars on the premises that retail for over $1.00 per cigar.
(g) The cigar bar prohibits the smoking of all other tobacco products.
(2) For 1 calendar year only, a cigar bar qualifies for the exemption under this section if an affidavit, signed by the person that owns or operates the cigar bar, is filed with the department and certifies that all of the following circumstances apply to the cigar bar:
(a) The cigar bar is located in a city with a population of more than 32,000 and less than 34,000 that is located in a county with a population of more than 100,000 and less than 105,000.
(b) Not earlier than 2023, the cigar bar failed to file an affidavit under subsection (1) for not less than 1 calendar year and not more than 3 calendar years.
(c) The cigar bar has not previously filed an affidavit under this subsection.
(3) If a cigar bar has qualified for the exemption under this section pursuant to subsection (2), the cigar bar's affidavit filing requirement under subsection (1) does not include the range of calendar years described in subsection (2)(b), as applicable to the cigar bar.
(2) (4) A tobacco specialty retail store in existence on May 1, 2010 that meets the requirements of this section is exempt from the smoking prohibition of section 12603 and may allow smoking on its premises. To qualify for the exemption under this section, the person that owns or operates a tobacco specialty retail store must file an affidavit with the department on or before the expiration of 30 days after May 1, 2010 and on January 31 of each year after May 1, 2010. The affidavit must be signed by the owner or operator of the tobacco specialty retail store and must certify that the tobacco specialty retail store was in existence on May 1, 2010 and that it meets all of the following requirements:
(a) In the 30-day period immediately preceding May 1, 2010, the tobacco specialty retail store generated 75% or more of its total gross annual income from the on-site sale of tobacco products and smoking paraphernalia.
(b) For each calendar year after the calendar year in which the first affidavit is filed under this subsection, the tobacco specialty retail store generated 75% or more of its total gross annual income from the on-site sale of tobacco products and smoking paraphernalia.
(c) The tobacco specialty retail store is located on premises that are physically separated from any areas of the same or adjacent establishments in which smoking is prohibited under this part or part 129 and where smoke does not infiltrate into those nonsmoking areas. As used in this subdivision, "physically separated" means an area that is enclosed on all sides by any combination of solid walls, windows, or doors that extend from the floor to ceiling.
(d) The tobacco specialty retail store prohibits entry to an individual who is less than 21 years of age during the time the tobacco specialty retail store is open for business.
(3) (5) The Except as otherwise provide in this subsection, the department may request additional information from a cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store to verify that the cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store meets the requirements of this section. A cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store shall comply with requests from the department under this section. If the department determines that a photograph of a cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store is needed to verify that the cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store meets the requirements of this section, the department shall obtain the photograph itself and shall not require the cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store to provide a photograph.
(4) (6) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store that does not meet the requirements of this section or violates this section is not exempt from the smoking prohibition of section 12603 and shall immediately prohibit smoking on its premises. A cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store that meets the requirements of this section, other than filing the affidavit as required under subsection (1) or (4), (2), retains its exemption and may continue to allow smoking during the period beginning on the date the affidavit is due and ending on the expiration of 21 days after that date. However, if the affidavit remains unfiled after the 21-day grace period, the cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store is not exempt from the smoking prohibition of section 12603 and shall immediately prohibit smoking on its premises. A cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store that loses its exemption under this subsection is not exempt from the smoking prohibition of section 12603, shall immediately prohibit smoking on its premises, and may only again qualify for the exemption under this section by filing an affidavit and meeting the requirements of subsection (1) , or (2), or (4), as applicable.
(5) The department shall establish and maintain a webpage on the department's publicly accessible website to receive and approve or reject an affidavit submitted under this section. The department shall establish the webpage not later than 180 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this sentence. The webpage must meet all of the following requirements:
(a) Be accessible to the public at no cost.
(b) Allow for a cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store to submit and amend an affidavit.
(c) Provide real-time status updates to a cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store regarding the status of the cigar bar's or tobacco specialty retail store's affidavit.
(d) Allow for a cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store to select 1 of the following preferred methods of communication:
(i) The webpage.
(ii) Email.
(iii) Telephone.
(iv) Mail.
(6) This subsection applies beginning January 1, 2028. A cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store shall submit an affidavit required under this section via the webpage established under subsection (5). The department shall, not later than 30 days after a cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store submits an affidavit, approve or reject the affidavit and notify the cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store of the approval or rejection via the preferred method of communication that the cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store selected under subsection (5)(d). If a cigar bar's or tobacco specialty retail store's affidavit is rejected, the cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store may, not later than 30 days after the date of the department's notification, do 1 of the following:
(a) Correct the affidavit or otherwise bring the affidavit into compliance with this section.
(b) Appeal the department's decision.
(7) If a cigar bar or tobacco specialty retail store appeals a decision of the department under subsection (6), the department shall conduct a proceeding as a contested case in accordance with chapter 4 of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.271 to 24.288.
