§855. Exemption from tax

            A. Smoking and chewing tobacco purchased by or for state institutions for issue to the inmates of the same is hereby exempted from the taxes levied by this Chapter; however, nothing in this Subsection shall be construed to exempt the tax on manufactured cigarettes and cigars.

            B.(1)(a) No tax levied by this Chapter shall apply to the furnishing of a product at no charge as a sample in a business-to-business exchange at, or in conjunction with, a conference, convention, exposition, trade show, professional or trade association event, business or professional meeting, corporate event, or exhibition of any kind held in this state.

            (b)(i) For purposes of this Subsection, "business-to-business exchange" means the distribution by a business of free samples in a limited quantity with nominal value to another business as part of a genuine effort to sell or market the product being sampled to that business.

            (ii) For purposes of this Subparagraph, "nominal value" means a value which is so small or slight that it is not considered real or substantial in comparison with what might reasonably be expected.

            (2) The exemption provided for in this Subsection shall terminate on August 1, 2033, and shall have no effect on and after that date.

            Amended by Acts 2023, No. 297, §2.