Compiled by SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS staff
(Photo credit: John Sharp)
The Alabama House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at strengthening enforcement of the state’s ban on the sale of vape products to individuals under the age of 21. Sponsored by State Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, the bill passed with bipartisan support in an 89-9 vote and now heads to the Senate for consideration.
House Bill 8 (HB8) seeks to close loopholes in Alabama’s current vaping law, first enacted in 2019, which required vape products to be listed on a state registry prior to being sold. Drummond, who co-sponsored the original legislation alongside Rep. Shane Stringer, R-Mobile County, said lack of enforcement funding has allowed dangerous and unregulated products to slip through the cracks.
“Vaping is horrible when it comes to our children,” Drummond said. “We don’t know what’s in those products.”
To address enforcement challenges, the new bill proposes establishing a licensing fee system for vape distributors, projected to generate $2.5 million annually. These funds would be deposited into a newly created Tobacco Licensing and Compliance Fund within the State Treasury, earmarked for enforcement efforts.
Additional measures in the bill include:
- Increased penalties for distributors, including fines up to $1,000 and the possibility of license suspension or revocation after multiple violations within a two-year period.
- Graduated consequences for underage possession, ranging from written warnings and community service to fines and juvenile court referrals for minors under 18.
- A mandate for the State Board of Education to develop a statewide vaping education, prevention, and awareness program.
While similar versions of Drummond’s bill have cleared the House in past years, they failed to advance in the Senate. However, she expressed confidence this year, noting that Senate President Pro-Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, has agreed to carry the bill in the Senate.
“It’s a good bill for the health and welfare of our children,” Drummond said.