HB8 Summary

• Establishes licensing requirements for retailers selling tobacco, tobacco products, electronic nicotine delivery systems (vaping products), e-liquids, and alternative nicotine products, with annual permit fees of $150 plus initial $50 filing fee.

• Prohibits distribution of these products through vending machines and restricts self-service displays to tobacco specialty stores and specialty vaping retailers located in areas inaccessible to minors under 21 years of age.

• Creates the Vaping Licensing and Enforcement Fund from permit fees and fines, distributed to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (40%), Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (20%), State Board of Education (20%), and Unified Judicial System (20%).

• Requires e-liquid and alternative nicotine product manufacturers to certify products are compliant with FDA regulations; prohibits products containing synthetic nicotine not submitted to FDA by May 14, 2022; requires all vaping products be manufactured in the United States effective October 1, 2025.

• Mandates State Board of Education establish a model vaping awareness and prevention program by September 1, 2025, with each local school board adopting policies prohibiting student possession or use of tobacco and vaping products and establishing graduated consequences for violations.