Oklahoma House Bill Proposes Shifting Vaping Regulation Enforcement to Attorney General’s Office
In a recent development, House Bill 3971 has been introduced in the Oklahoma legislature, proposing to transfer the enforcement of regulations related to the purchase and sale of vapor products from the Oklahoma Able Commission to the Attorney General’s Office. Read more
In an effort to address the growing concern of underage vaping, New York state Sen. Monica Martinez, a Democrat from Long Island, has introduced a new bill that seeks to ban the sale of e-cigarette products designed to appeal to minors. The legislation targets products that resemble school supplies or toys or are packaged in a way that attracts children.
Read moreA new bill in the Kentucky General Assembly aims to establish a statewide database of vape retailers and bring state law in line with federal regulations on vaping products. House Bill 11, sponsored by Republican Rep. Rebecca Raymer of Morgantown, was approved with a committee substitute by the House Health Services Committee on March 7 and is now awaiting action by the full House.
Read moreGeorgia lawmakers are considering a bill that would establish a directory of vaping products allowed for sale in the state. Proponents argue the measure will provide clarity for businesses and aid in enforcement, while vape shop owners contend it could significantly harm their industry and remove products that help people quit smoking. Read more
South Carolina legislators continue pushing a bill to restrict vape shop inventory to solely FDA-authorized items. By creating a registry prohibiting unlisted products, supporters aim to curb teen usage. But vocal industry opposition argues the restrictive approach could backfire. Read more
The Florida House has passed a divisive bill that would effectively ban the sale of all but 34 tobacco-flavored vaping products sold by Big Tobacco companies in the state. The legislation, HB 1007, cleared the House on an 83-26 vote, with two Republicans voting against the measure sponsored by Palm City Republican Rep. Toby Overdorf.
Read moreA new Florida bill (SB 1006) would mandate all nicotine product manufacturers clearly state on packaging that their vaping devices have not received regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The state Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government unanimously passed the proposed legislation on February 21st. Read more
A series of Michigan Senate bills introduced this month threatens to eliminate access to flavored vapes while making remaining products unaffordable via enormous taxes. Anti-vaping groups back the legislation which public health advocates argue will harm rather than protect citizens. Read more
As the vaping epidemic continues to grow, Alabama is taking critical steps to counteract this dangerous trend. Two significant anti-vaping bills are currently making their way through the Legislature, drawing attention from all corners of the state. Each of these legislative proposals is only one vote away from becoming law. Their progression represents a pivotal moment in the fight against substance abuse among youth.
Read moreS.B. 920 Aims to Prohibit Sales of Products with Distinguishable Non-Tobacco Tastes or Aromas
Senator Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) has introduced a new bill in the Texas Senate that would ban the sale of all flavored tobacco and vaping products in the state. Senate Bill 920 (S.B. 920) defines a flavored product as one that has a “distinguishable taste or aroma other than the taste or aroma of tobacco.”
The bill includes a unique “rebuttable presumption” clause, which states that if a company publicly claims that a product “imparts a taste or smell other than the taste or smell of tobacco,” including through text or images on the product labels, the product would be considered flavored and its sale would be prohibited.
Unlike some other states’ flavored tobacco bans, S.B. 920 does not include any exemptions. The bill would not penalize consumers for purchasing, possessing, or consuming these products. However, it would make it illegal to share or give these products to another person.
Currently, only California and Massachusetts have statewide bans on the sale of flavored tobacco products, both of which include limited exemptions for certain flavored cigar sales. Massachusetts allows specialty cigar lounges to continue selling flavored cigars, while California permits the sale of flavored cigars with a wholesale price of $12 or more.
In early 2023, the head of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products announced that the agency aims to introduce a nationwide ban on flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes by the fall of 2023. The proposed Texas bill aligns with this anticipated federal action, signaling a growing trend toward more stringent regulation of flavored tobacco and vaping products.
As the bill progresses through the Texas legislature, stakeholders on all sides of the issue will undoubtedly be watching closely and weighing in on the potential impacts of such a ban on public health, individual freedoms, and the tobacco and vaping industries.