VirginiaHB19462025 Regular SessionHouse

Retail tobacco and hemp products; smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age, prohibitions.

Sponsored By: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic)

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Summary

Possession, etc., of retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age; liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products license; prohibitions; enforcement. Prohibits any person younger than 21 years of age from possessing any retail tobacco or hemp product intended for smoking, as those terms are defined in relevant law, with certain exceptions enumerated in the bill. The bill provides that any such product purchased or possessed by a person younger than 21 years of age (i) shall be deemed contraband and (ii) may be seized by a law-enforcement officer. Any such product, the lawful possession of which is not established, seized by such officer shall be forfeited and disposed of according to the process described in relevant law. The bill also provides that seizure shall be the sole penalty for a violation of such prohibition and that the provisions of the bill shall not preclude prosecution under any other statute. Further, if a person does not receive a license from the Department of Taxation to sell, deal, transport, or ship liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products to retailers in the Commonwealth, such person is subject to a penalty of $400, in addition to any other applicable taxes or fees. The bill provides that the Department of Taxation is not required pursuant to relevant law to conduct unannounced investigations of retail tobacco dealers at least once every 24 months to verify that a retail dealer is not selling retail tobacco products to persons younger than 21 years of age. Lastly, the bill requires the Department of Taxation to convene a work group consisting of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, the Office of the Attorney General, the Virginia State Police, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services to develop an enforcement program related to the sale of retail tobacco products or hemp products intended for smoking to individuals younger than 21 years of age. The work group's findings and recommendations are to be reported to the Chairs of the House Committees on General Laws and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Rehabilitation and Social Services and Finance and Appropriations no later than November 1, 2025. This bill is identical to SB 1060.

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Patrick A. Hope

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 413 • No: 106

Senate vote • 2/21/2025

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 36 • No: 2

House vote • 2/21/2025

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 82 • No: 8

Senate vote • 2/12/2025

Passed Senate with substitute

Yes: 38 • No: 1

Senate vote • 2/12/2025

Senate insisted on substitute

Yes: 40 • No: 0

House vote • 2/12/2025

Senate substitute rejected by House

Yes: 5 • No: 87

Senate vote • 2/11/2025

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/11/2025

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 14 • No: 1

Senate vote • 2/10/2025

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote • 2/4/2025

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 91 • No: 7

House vote • 1/31/2025

Reported from Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote • 1/24/2025

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and referred to Appropriations

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote • 1/17/2025

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referred to Appropriations

Yes: 8 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0595)

    3/24/2025Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 595 (Effective 07/01/25)

    3/24/2025Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1946)

    3/24/2025House
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025

    3/11/2025Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025

    3/11/2025House
  6. Signed by President

    3/10/2025Senate
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1946ER)

    3/7/2025House
  8. Enrolled

    3/7/2025House
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/7/2025House
  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1946)

    2/24/2025House
  11. Conference report agreed to by Senate (36-Y 2-N)

    2/21/2025Senate
  12. Conference report agreed to by House (82-Y 8-N)

    2/21/2025House
  13. Conference substitute printed 25107841D-H3

    2/20/2025House
  14. Amended by conference committee

    2/20/2025
  15. Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N)

    2/12/2025Senate
  16. Passed Senate with substitute (38-Y 1-N)

    2/12/2025Senate
  17. Senators: Ebbin, Salim, Peake

    2/12/2025Senate
  18. Conferees appointed by Senate

    2/12/2025Senate
  19. Delegates: Hope, Seibold, Austin

    2/12/2025House
  20. Conferees appointed by House

    2/12/2025House
  21. House acceded to request

    2/12/2025House
  22. Senate requested conference committee

    2/12/2025Senate
  23. Senate substitute rejected by House (5-Y 87-N)

    2/12/2025House
  24. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    2/12/2025Senate
  25. Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

    2/12/2025Senate

Bill Text

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