Senate committee hears hours of testimony and rejects bill to create Arkansas vapor-product registry

The Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee rejected Senate Bill 252 on a roll-call vote after a lengthy hearing that included testimony from vape shop owners, retail chains, the Arkansas Tobacco Control Board and children’s-health advocates.

SB 252 would have required a state registry of vapor products that mirrors the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directory and would also list products that have applied for federal review or are on appeal. Sponsor Sen. Jonathan Dismain said the registry is intended to "allow[] our tobacco control to have something to work against to enforce" and to give inspectors a way to know what products on store shelves have gone through federal review.

Supporters, including Steve Good, who identified himself as representing Arkansas retailers, said a registry would help enforcement by letting agents scan product UPCs to tell whether an item had applied for or received federal premarket review. Good said states with similar directories have not reported mass shop closures and that the measure would help keep unapproved or counterfeit items off shelves.

Opponents — largely independent vape-shop…