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Committee reviews flavored-vape enforcement results, discusses tobacco tax stamp and investigator funding
Summary
Committee members on April 2 reviewed enforcement that yielded more than $900,000 in fines from online vape purchases, discussed using tobacco funds for a full-time investigator, and considered expanding tax-stamp coverage to capture out-of-state purchases.
Members told the committee they have been monitoring enforcement efforts targeting flavored vapes and said a recent multi-year online-purchase investigation produced fines totaling more than $900,000. One member said the liquor and lottery office supported a proposal to fund a full-time investigator from tobacco funds, with anticipated backfill of that position’s funding from fines collected.
The committee discussed the limits of current tobacco tax-stamp coverage — which applies to cigarettes but not cigars, snuff or chewing tobacco — and noted that retailers purchasing product outside the state at lower rates may avoid state tax, reducing revenue that would otherwise support enforcement and public-health programs.
Members suggested the committee could pursue options to strengthen consumer protection, update enforcement resources, and explore expanding tax-stamp requirements, but no formal amendment or motion was made.
Next steps: committee staff will continue discussions, and members may bring proposals that would fund enforcement and consider tax-stamp changes in future hearings.
