# Kentucky SB 100: AN ACT relating to tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product licensure. Kentucky SB 100, AN ACT relating to tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product licensure., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jimmy Higdon (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-03-24 (signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 78)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB100-2025RS - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky SB 100 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product licensure. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-02-07 - Last action: 2025-03-24, signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 78) - Sponsor: Jimmy Higdon (Republican) - Cosponsors: 2 - Subjects: Fiscal Note, Drugs and Medicines, Licensing, Occupations and Professions, Public Health, Tobacco, Trade Practices and Retailing, Boards and Commissions, Public Protection, Vaping - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (147 yes, 20 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 14 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Tobacco fines fund enforcement and education: benefit, low. The law directs half of covered fines to enforcement and half to a public health youth education program. The youth program covers tobacco, alternative nicotine, and vapor product dangers. The law also extends Agriculture Department education duties and its referenced authority to retain 50% of cov… - Retailers face nitrous oxide sales limits: cost, high. Retailers cannot sell or give away covered containers holding only nitrous oxide or a chemical compound mixed with it. Exceptions cover specified medical, dental, manufacturing, food-preparation, and automotive uses. A first citation costs $2,500, and a second costs $5,000. A third citation can bri… - Retailers face stronger underage sales penalties: cost, medium. Retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers cannot distribute covered products or samples to anyone under 21. Retail owners must explain age-check rules to clerks and keep signed acknowledgments; violations bring $100–$500 fines each. For covered sales and notice violations, clerks pay $100 per citat… - Retailers risk license loss and bans: cost, medium. The state can suspend or revoke licenses for covered product, tax, regulatory, and federal-law violations. It can also act for another cause the department considers sufficient. Retailers are responsible for covered violations by workers and agents, even without the retailer’s knowledge or instruct… - Tobacco retailers need yearly paid licenses: cost, medium. Kentucky retailers must get a state license before selling covered tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products. Each location costs $500 a year, including a $50 nonrefundable application fee credited toward an issued license. Retailers must display the license and renew it yearly. Licenses cannot move bet… - Unauthorized vapor sales bring escalating fines: cost, medium. Retail owners pay $500 for a first citation for selling unauthorized vapor products. A second or later citation costs $1,000. A fourth citation revokes the license and bars reapplication for two years. Retailers cannot lawfully sell vapor products while a fine remains more than 60 days overdue. - Local governments lose tobacco rule authority: cost, low. The law expands the state tobacco provisions that take priority over later local rules. Local governments cannot override those provisions through later rules on tobacco use, display, sale, or distribution. - Vapor manufacturers face records and fines: cost, low. Manufacturers must give product-authorization records to Kentucky wholesalers, or directly to retailers when no wholesaler is used. Records can include FDA authorization, application acceptance or tracking information, or appeal filings, kept on paper or electronically. Missing, false, or misleadin… - Wholesalers face tighter vapor supply rules: cost, low. Wholesalers may supply retailers only with authorized nicotine vapor products. Violations bring a $5,000 fine for the first citation and $15,000 for each later citation. Distributors and wholesalers also cannot supply tobacco, alternative nicotine, or vapor products to retailers whose licenses are… - Youth tobacco penalties favor community programs: mixed, medium. A child found guilty of a covered tobacco offense cannot be committed because of that offense. People under 21 found possessing or using covered tobacco, alternative nicotine, or vapor products may face community service or cessation programs. Legal exemptions for supervised enforcement activities… - Business buyers get temporary sales licenses: mixed, low. Buyers taking over an ongoing retail business can receive a temporary license while their permanent application is processed. They must apply for a permanent license and pay its fees, plus a nonrefundable $60 processing fee. Buyers must first publish a local notice inviting protests within 30 days.… - Retailer lists expand alongside business reporting: mixed, low. The state publishes licensed tobacco, nicotine, and vapor retailers online, updating the list on each month’s first day. Retailers must disclose authorized nicotine vapor sales in organizational filings, certificate-of-authority applications, and annual reports. The Secretary of State shares its re… - Tobacco retailers face expanded state inspections: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, a new state licensing division oversees tobacco, nicotine, and vapor products. Licensed sellers receive random checks at least yearly, during business hours or another time the commissioner chooses. Expanded random, unannounced, and targeted inspections also support federal… - Vapor sellers face tighter product limits: mixed, low. Manufacturers and retailers may sell only nicotine vapor products that qualify as authorized under Kentucky law. Products need FDA authorization or U.S. marketing by August 8, 2016, and an application filed by September 9, 2020. The application route also requires ongoing review without an order, a… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Jimmy Higdon (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Greg Elkins (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Stephen Meredith (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-03-13 | Senate | passed | pass | 32 | 6 | | | 2025-03-12 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 82 | 11 | | | 2025-02-26 | Senate | passed | pass | 33 | 3 | | ## Actions (40) - 2025-03-24: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 78) - 2025-03-13: delivered to Governor - 2025-03-13: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (Senate) - 2025-03-13: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (Senate) - 2025-03-13: passed 32-6 with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2025-03-13: Senate concurred in House Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2025-03-13: posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2025-03-13: taken from Rules (S) (Senate) - 2025-03-12: to Rules (S) (Senate) - 2025-03-12: received in Senate (Senate) - 2025-03-12: 3rd reading, passed 82-11 with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2025-03-12: placed in the Orders of the Day (House) - 2025-03-12: taken from Rules (House) - 2025-03-12: reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2025-03-06: returned to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H) (House) - 2025-03-06: 2nd reading (House) - 2025-03-06: taken from Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H) (House) - 2025-03-05: to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H) (House) - 2025-03-05: returned to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2025-03-05: 1st reading (House) - 2025-03-05: taken from Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2025-02-27: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2025-02-27: received in House (House) - 2025-02-26: passed 33-3 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (5) and Floor Amendment (3-title) (Senate) - 2025-02-26: floor amendment withdrawn Floor Amendment (4) (Senate) - 2025-02-26: 3rd reading (Senate) - 2025-02-26: floor amendment withdrawn Floor Amendments (1) and (2) (Senate) - 2025-02-25: passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day (Senate) - 2025-02-25: floor amendment (5) filed to Committee Substitute (Senate) - 2025-02-21: floor amendment (4) filed to Committee Substitute , floor amendment (3-title) filed to bill (Senate) - 2025-02-21: passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day (Senate) - 2025-02-20: passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day (Senate) - 2025-02-19: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, February 20, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-02-19: floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute (Senate) - 2025-02-19: 2nd reading, to Rules (Senate) - 2025-02-18: floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute (Senate) - 2025-02-18: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2025-02-12: to Licensing & Occupations (S) (Senate) - 2025-02-07: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2025-02-07: introduced in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2025-03-13: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/25RS/sb100/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2025-02-06: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/25RS/sb100/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related bills - HB 501: AN ACT relating to pharmaceutical drugs. (became law) - HB 664: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle and declaring an emergency. (signed) - HB 606: AN ACT relating to economic development. (signed) - HB 421: AN ACT relating to colorectal cancer screenings. (signed) - HB 555: AN ACT relating to local government financial practices. (signed) - HB 493: AN ACT relating to the towing and storage of motor vehicles. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/25RS/sb100/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/25RS/sb100/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related - [HB 501: AN ACT relating to pharmaceutical drugs.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB501-2025RS) - [HB 664: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB664-2025RS) - [HB 606: AN ACT relating to economic development.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB606-2025RS) - [HB 421: AN ACT relating to colorectal cancer screenings.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB421-2025RS) - [HB 555: AN ACT relating to local government financial practices.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB555-2025RS) - [HB 493: AN ACT relating to the towing and storage of motor vehicles.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB493-2025RS) - [Kentucky bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky/bills) - [Kentucky state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB100-2025RS (as of 2026-10-17).