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Senate concurs in House amendments to e‑nicotine bill after debate; 40‑6 vote
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Summary
After an extended floor speech opposing the bill's market effects, the Senate voted 40‑6 to concur in House amendments to the bill regulating electronic nicotine delivery systems; Senator Lieber warned the bill could create monopolies and harm South Carolina manufacturers.
The Senate debated concurrence with House amendments to a bill establishing regulations and penalties for the sale of electronic nicotine delivery systems. Senator Lieber used floor time to oppose aspects of the measure, arguing enforcement of existing laws against minor sales should come first and warning that the bill's provisions risk creating monopolies that would exclude South Carolina manufacturers from the market.
"This bill is literally going to kill jobs," Lieber said, asserting that an arbitrary cutoff date in the bill would bar certain manufacturers from selling products even when their formulations are identical to FDA‑approved products. He also said the bill's drafting appeared influenced by major tobacco interests and suggested the chamber proceed cautiously.
Following debate, the chamber took a roll call on concurrence with House amendments; the clerk reported that the Senate concurred by a vote of 40 to 6. The concurrence moves the House amendments into the Senate file and the bill will proceed under the Legislature's established schedule for further readings and enrollment steps.
The floor record includes the opposing floor remarks and the recorded roll‑call tally; any final statutory text will be available in the enrolled bill and committee/journal records.
