Free UST Training is Back Again
The no-cost training service sponsored by AZ DEQ has, once again, been unexpectedly extended until 1/31/26. If you are currently registered for free training, you may now pick up your course where you left off and complete your training. If you plan to register your staff for free training, please do so with enough time for them to complete their training by January 31, 2026. To learn more and sign up for trainings, click HERE.
An EMA Call to Action on Pennies (Yes, Pennies)
The penny is officially on its way out and small retailers are running out of time to adapt.
In May 2025, at President Trump’s direction, the U.S. Treasury ended production of the penny. With no fresh supply, the existing pool of pennies will dwindle, leaving cash-reliant businesses unable to make exact change. Retailers are increasingly concerned that this unavoidable shortfall could put them at odds with state consumer-protection laws and are urgently seeking clear federal guidance.
Without a federal fix to the penny shortage, states and localities with “exact change” laws could ban rounding entirely, forcing retailers into legal gray zones or costly compliance headaches.
Bipartisan federal legislation now pending in Congress—The Common Cents Act of 2025—can address this problem, but only if it includes explicit federal preemption allowing retailers to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel. The current draft does not include language protecting small businesses that simply cannot provide exact change.
EMA asks that you urge lawmakers to support small businesses by making changes to the Common Cents Act to add rounding authority to the nearest nickel for cash transactions effective immediately. This will ensure businesses can comply with the law, serve customers efficiently, and navigate an increasingly uncertain currency landscape. To reach out to Congress, click HERE.
AZ Attorney General Calls on Shopify to Crack Down on Vape Sales
Attorney General Kris Mayes joined a bipartisan coalition of 25 attorneys general and the City of New York in sending a letter to Canada-based commerce platform Shopify, urging the company to take stronger action against merchants that use its services to sell illegal tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes or vapes. APMA will keep you posted as the situation develops.
Bill to Reopen the Government Contained Hemp Ban
Senator McConnell (R – Kentucky) included language in the FY ’26 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, which passed as part of the package that reopened the government, that will essentially ban most hemp products currently on the market in one year. NACS, EMA, and other allies are scrambling to come up with a response. APMA will keep you posted as the situation develops.
Swipe Fees Settlement Concerns EMA
EMA expressed deep concern over the reported terms of a new proposed settlement between Visa, Mastercard, and U.S. retailers, calling it “insufficient relief in the face of years of unchecked fee increases.” They will continue monitoring developments as the proposed settlement moves toward judicial review. To learn more about the problems with the current approach, click HERE.
President Trump Cracks Down on Illegal Vapes
EMA has praised President Trump’s decisive crackdown on rogue smoke shops selling illegal, unregulated products—restoring fairness to retail and shielding families and kids from harm. To learn more about the enforcement actions being taken across the country, click HERE.