Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Vermont officials describe online enforcement gains, but say problem persists for youth vaping
Summary
Attorney general and liquor regulators told a joint House hearing that online investigations and settlements (including a $400,000 Amazon settlement) have produced more than $1.3 million in penalties, while regulators expand data tools and consider AI to speed detection — but committee members warned youth access remains easy.
State and enforcement officials told a joint House Commerce & Economic Development and House Human Services hearing on May 8 that Vermont has used existing laws to pursue online sellers of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and secured more than $1.3 million in civil penalties, but that youth access and online marketing remain a continuing problem.
Rose Kennedy of the Office of the Attorney General said the office has pursued roughly 34 online sellers since 2020 and reached settlement resolutions that “have now resulted in approximately $1,300,000 in civil penalties plus injunctive relief.” She cited an October 2024 settlement with Amazon that included a $400,000 payment to Vermont and injunctive relief requiring Amazon to provide the state with a list of sellers who circumvent tobacco controls beginning January 2025 for four years.
That enforcement relies in part on state law the witnesses described as a delivery-sales ban (referred to during testimony as “7 BSA 10 10”), and on the Vermont Consumer Protection Act. “Vermont is one of 17 states…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
