By Jakob Thorington | State Affairs
After months of workshopping a bill to regulate vapes and e-cigarettes, Senate Democrats have finally found agreement on a plan that most of their House colleagues opposed.
The Senate passed House Bill 4001, a measure that would enact regulations for alternative nicotine products like vapes, after it found overwhelming support today from both parties. The approval marks a significant advancement for the measure, which only saw a handful of House Democrats vote with Republicans to pass the bill in March.
The only Senators to vote against the bill were Democratic Sens. Mitzi Epstein and Theresa Hatathlie.
The measure would require the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control to issue a license in order to manufacture or distribute e-cigarettes, vapes or other similar products starting in 2028. A fiscal note from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimates HB 4001 would cost about $1.8 million in one-time funding and $3.6 million annually to hire 26 new positions within the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control to enforce the bill.
