Vape regulation bill advances in Tennessee House
State Rep. David Hawk (R-Greeneville) is the co-sponsor of House Bill 968, which cleared the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee in a 12–1 vote Monday.
Amended bill would give Johnson City power to set alcohol sale hours
The bill would limit the sale of vapor products to those that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or are still under FDA review. It would also tax disposable vape products at 7 cents per milliliter and refillable vape products at 10% of wholesale cost price.
Speaking before the committee, Hawk said the goal of the bill is to keep vapor products out of children's hands. Opponents say it would force most if not all vape shops to close and lead to more people turning to tobacco.
The bill will now go to the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee. The Senate version, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Yager (R-Kingston), is on the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee's agenda for Tuesday.
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