News & alerts
What changed for your stores
Laws, taxes and deadlines for convenience stores, gas stations and liquor stores in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
NJJul 20, 2026New Jersey’s New Data Law Carries a $50,000 Per Record Penalty, and It Can Reach a Store Loyalty Program
A5328 took effect June 30 with no small-business exemption. The sensitive data sale ban is live now, and the risk for most stores sits in the loyalty vendor contract.
PAJul 20, 2026Your Pennsylvania Store’s Annual Report Is Due September 30, and Next Year Missing It Can Dissolve the Business
Pennsylvania LLCs owe a $7 annual report by September 30. This is the last year a missed deadline slides, because administrative dissolution begins with 2027 reports.
NYJul 20, 2026New York’s 75% Nicotine Pouch Tax Starts September 1, and You Owe a Floor Tax on Current Stock
New York extends its tobacco products tax to nicotine pouches at 75 percent of wholesale on September 1, 2026, plus a one-time floor tax on inventory you already hold.
PAJul 16, 2026Pennsylvania’s New $50.8 Billion Budget Skips Skill Games, Leaving Store Terminals in Limbo Before October
Gov. Shapiro signed the state budget on July 12 with no skill-games framework in it. The Supreme Court’s 120-day stay runs out in mid-October, after which the terminals in thousands of stores become subject to seizure.
NYJul 16, 2026New York Moves to Retire the “Sell By” Date: What the Food Date Labeling Act Means for Your Shelves
The Food Date Labeling Act passed both chambers and awaits Governor Hochul. It bans consumer-facing “Sell By” labels, standardizes safety and quality dates, and expressly lets stores keep selling and donating food past its quality date.
NJJul 16, 2026Tobacco and Vape Home Deliveries in New Jersey Now Require a 21+ Resident’s Signature
New Jersey’s delivery signature law took effect July 11, 2026. Any tobacco or vape delivery to a residence now requires the signature of a resident who is at least 21, with fines from $250 to $1,000 and license exposure for retail dealers.
PAJul 15, 2026Pennsylvania Raises the Minimum Cigarette Markup for Retailers to 8.5 Percent
Act 57 of 2025 raised Pennsylvania’s presumed retailer markup on cigarettes to 8.5 percent as of March 1, 2026, rising to 9.5 percent in 2027, and created a vape directory retailers must follow.
NJJul 15, 2026New Jersey Cuts Business Formation and Filing Fees Starting July 1
A new law drops New Jersey business formation fees, with for-profit registration falling from $125 to $100 and nonprofits from $75 to $50, effective July 1, 2026.
NYJul 15, 2026New York Moves to Ban Electronic Shelf Labels and Surveillance Pricing in Grocery and Drug Stores
Senate Bill S8616A would make New York the first state to ban electronic shelf labels and surveillance pricing in food and drug stores, with $10,000-per-violation penalties. Here is what it would mean for member stores.
NJPAJul 14, 2026Pennsylvania Moves to Ban Dynamic Pricing in Stores, Following New Jersey
HB 2626 advanced 18-8 and would make remotely changed electronic shelf prices a violation of the Unfair Trade Practices law. What it means before you buy an ESL system.
NYJul 14, 2026New York Packaging Bill Would Shift Recycling Costs Onto the Brands on Your Shelves
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act is one Assembly vote from passage. Here is what the 5 million dollar producer threshold means for independent stores.
NJJul 14, 2026New Jersey Bill Would Let Liquor Stores Sell Low-Dose THC Drinks Before the Federal Hemp Ban Hits
S4452 and A5338 would let New Jersey liquor stores sell cannabis beverages under 10 mg per container, just as the federal hemp rewrite takes effect on November 13, 2026.