Alabama Schools to Implement New Anti-Vaping Policies
Public schools across Alabama are set to implement a new, state-approved system to prevent student vaping in the upcoming academic year. This initiative is mandated by House Bill 8 (HB8), sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile), which requires the Alabama State Board of Education to create a model anti-vaping policy for all local school boards to adopt by November.
State Board of Education Superintendent Eric Mackey stated the goal was to create a policy that is effective but “not too overwhelming for the districts.” Under the proposed model, a student caught vaping for the first time will have their parents contacted. A second offense will require the student to take a state-approved vaping awareness, education, and prevention class. This curriculum, created in collaboration with the Drug Education Council, will cover topics like health consequences, peer pressure, nicotine addiction, and common misconceptions about vaping.
The move addresses concerning youth usage rates, with a 2023 report from Children’s of Alabama hospital noting that nearly 20% of high school students had vaped. However, some board members questioned the need for a specific vaping law separate from general discipline policies. Board member Wayne Reynolds asked why vaping was being “bifurcated” from other common concerns. Board member Jackie Zeigler raised concerns about children moving to other drugs and advocated for broader language to avoid having to create new resolutions for each new substance, like THC gummies. Mackey acknowledged the law’s specificity but confirmed the board must follow it. The Alabama State Board of Education will vote on the final model policy next month.
- Minneapolis Sets $25 Minimum Price for E-Cigarettes - July 11, 2025
- Alabama Schools to Implement New Anti-Vaping Policies - July 11, 2025
- Is Vaping and Driving Illegal in Rhode Island? (2025 Guide) - July 10, 2025