Retail group won’t oppose S198 as health officials describe youth vaping trends and treatment efforts

Maggie Lens, a lobbyist for the Vermont Retail Grocerers Association, told the House Services committee that her members ‘‘exceed expectations’’ on age-compliance checks and that the association would not oppose the current draft of S198, though it remains opposed in principle to fee increases. "We can't say that we support it but we also are not going to sit here and oppose it," Lens said in brief testimony about the bill, which the chair described as "an act relating to the regulation of tobacco products and tobacco substitutes."

Shayla Livingston, interim deputy commissioner at the health department, and Rhonda Williams, who runs the department’s tobacco program, responded to lawmakers' questions with data, program details and funding context. Livingston said the department has ‘‘decades and decades’’ of evidence and evaluation and offered to return with a more focused presentation tailored to what the committee wants to examine.

The department reported trends showing youth vaping prevalence fell from about 26% in 2019 to roughly 16% in 2023, but staff emphasized a rise in frequency among current users. "The intensity of use is worse than it was back in 2015," Williams said, explaining that product novelty (notably devices with nicotine salts and discreet designs) drove the earlier surge and that different products dominate year to year.

Health officials described prevention and treatment investments: roughly 27% of the tobacco program budget goes to community organizations, the department runs statewide media campaigns based on tested assets (including CDC and peer-state materials), and it supports cessation services such as the 802Quits quitline and the youth-focused My Life My Quit text program. The department estimated about 3,000 people are served annually by 802Quits and reported roughly 400 enrollments among people aged 13–24 in calendar year 2025, which staff said equals about 15% of total enrollments.

On funding, the department said its tobacco work is financed by a mix of state funds, tobacco settlement dollars and federal grants — roughly one-third each — and noted that federal funding levels are uncertain going forward. Livingston warned that the program must adapt if federal support changes.

Committee members pressed for methodological clarity and local impacts. When asked how Medicaid status is captured in use estimates, staff said the information comes from statewide survey instruments that collect demographic data; the department pointed out that adult vaping rates among Medicaid enrollees are higher than statewide averages. Members also asked about local policy tools: the department cited a zoning change in St. Albans that restricts where tobacco retailers may locate, removing retail presence from Main Street and areas near the high school as one prevention step.

The hearing produced no formal motions or votes. Staff offered to provide the committee with links, the full report and a narrower presentation focused on the committee’s questions. The chair closed the session and said the committee will reconvene next week.