SB 337 Summary

• Expands tobacco sale restrictions to include tobacco-derived products and vapor products (e.g., electronic cigarettes) in addition to traditional tobacco products, with minimum age of 18 years

• Requires retailers to display warning signs at tobacco product displays and vending machines in red lettering at least one-half inch high stating it is illegal to sell these products to minors

• Mandates tobacco products and smokeless tobacco be displayed behind checkout counters or within unobstructed line of sight of sales staff, and prohibits sale of individual cigarettes

• Establishes escalating penalties for retailers: $25 for first violation, $100 for second, and $250 for third and subsequent violations; establishments may face 24-hour to 5-day sales bans after multiple violations

• Allows enforcement officials to use 17-year-old minors with parental consent to conduct undercover tobacco purchase attempts, with mandatory video/audio recording and specific guidelines that must be followed by law enforcement agencies