All Roll Calls
Yes: 120 • No: 3
ArkansasSB2522025 Regular SessionSenate
TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF HEALTH RISKS CAUSED BY VAPOR PRODUCTS AND E-LIQUID PRODUCTS; AND TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ARKANSAS YOUTH.
Sponsored By: Jonathan Dismang (Republican), Jeff Wardlaw (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Public vape listings limit product choices
Arkansas Tobacco Control must post a directory of certified manufacturers and products by November 1, 2025, and update it monthly. Beginning November 1, 2025, or the directory's first public posting, whichever is later, knowingly selling, offering, or possessing unlisted products is unlawful. The ban also covers importing vapor or e-liquid products for personal use in Arkansas. After removal from the directory, wholesalers have 60 days to remove products; retailers have 120 days to sell or remove them. Manufacturers must keep a current notification email and receive at least 15 days' notice before removal, with 15 days to establish eligibility or request a Board hearing.
Kids get stronger nicotine product protections
Arkansas retailers must sell alternative nicotine products and e-liquids in child-resistant packaging that meets federal standards. Covered tobacco and nicotine products cannot use child-appealing brands, images, characters, or specified candy and dessert references in marketing. The law also bans using tobacco, vapor, alternative nicotine, and e-liquid products inside schools, childcare centers, and healthcare facilities. The use ban includes those facilities' grounds.
Unsafe nicotine products face removal
Sellers cannot sell contaminated or adulterated tobacco, vapor, alternative nicotine, or e-liquid products to people in Arkansas. This includes filthy or decomposed products, harmful added substances, and products lacking required certification. Arkansas Tobacco Control can inspect authorized storage and distribution sites and require unsafe, damaged, or stale products to be returned or destroyed. The agency can make unannounced retailer and wholesaler checks, with follow-up checks within 90 days after violations. The director must publish check results at least annually and provide them on request.
Product fees fund enforcement and training
Certification fees and civil penalties go to the Arkansas Tobacco Control Revenue Fund. The fund can pay agency operating costs, seller education and training, and enforcement of tobacco and product-safety laws. When the contingency in Acts 2023, No. 629, § 17 is met, it can also pay eligible hemp-derived product enforcement costs. The law states no specific funding amount.
Product violations bring fines and hearings
Manufacturers face $1,000 per unlisted product starting November 1, 2025, or the directory's first public posting, whichever is later; the penalty continues until removal or listing. Knowingly false certifications carry $75,000–$250,000 penalties each, and repeat violations are deceptive trade practices. Confiscated vapor or e-liquid products can bring assessments of $25 each for the first 20 and $50 each thereafter. After notice and a hearing, the Board can suspend or revoke permits and impose penalties up to $5,000 per violation, applying the law's specific penalty rules where required. Arkansas Tobacco Control can seize unlawfully held or sold covered products for court or Board disposition; the law also extends seizure and forfeiture grounds to covered hemp-derived products when the contingency in Acts 2023, No. 629, § 17 is met.
Vape makers face fees, get privacy
Manufacturers pay $500 initially and $250 for annual renewal for each vapor or e-liquid brand family. A nonresident manufacturer not registered to do business in Arkansas must continuously keep an Arkansas agent for legal notices. Foreign manufacturers must ensure their Arkansas importers also keep in-state agents, and covered businesses must report agent appointments and changes. Manufacturers must submit required federal document cover pages; commercial and financial information receives confidentiality protection, with redactions and disclosures allowed by law. Manufacturers must report material changes within 30 days, including federal orders, market availability changes, and federal oversight changes.
Vape sales face rules and exemptions
Beginning September 1, 2025, vapor and e-liquid sales in Arkansas require manufacturer certification under penalty of perjury. The application route requires U.S. market presence by August 8, 2016, and a federal application by September 9, 2020. That application must remain under review, or a federal denial must be paused by a stay or injunction during appeal. Products with federal marketing approval also qualify. Manufacturers can request listing for temporarily exempt products by providing a formal federal exemption and proof they follow its terms.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Jonathan Dismang
Republican • Senate
Jeff Wardlaw
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Karilyn Brown
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/7/2025
House Vote - Monday, April 7, 2025 9:09:44 PM
Yes: 87 • No: 3 • Other: 3
Senate vote • 3/19/2025
Senate Vote - Wednesday, March 19, 2025 2:37:17 PM
Yes: 33 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB252 is now Act 590
4/14/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
4/9/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
4/9/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
4/8/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
4/8/2025SenateReturned to the Senate as passed.
4/8/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/7/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
4/1/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on HOUSE RULES
3/19/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
3/19/2025HouseOrdered immediately transmitted to the House.
3/19/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
3/19/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
3/18/2025SenateRe-referred to CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE
3/17/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/17/2025SenateAmendment # 2 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
3/17/2025SenateWithdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 2
3/17/2025SenateRules suspended.
3/17/2025SenateRe-referred to CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE
2/25/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
2/25/2025SenateAmendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
2/25/2025SenateWithdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 1
2/25/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE
2/18/2025SenateFiled
2/18/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB252 - Introduced
2/18/2025
Act Version
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