Bill > HB2439

This bill aims to enhance public health by modifying policies related to cigarettes, vapor products, and tobacco products. Key provisions include establishing a voluntary "responsible vendor program" for retailers of these products to reduce underage consumption and encourage best practices, offering a 50% reduction in monetary penalties for participants who maintain program requirements. It also introduces new regulations for manufacturers of vapor products containing nicotine, requiring them to be certified by the state starting January 1, 2027, and to pay fees based on the types of products they sell, with provisions for surety bonds and designated agents for out-of-state manufacturers. The bill clarifies that retailers must obtain cigarettes and vapor products only from licensed distributors or wholesalers, and that products sold in violation of these rules are considered contraband subject to seizure. Additionally, it prohibits the sale of "entertainment vapor products" with interactive features and vapor products that imitate food, school supplies, or characters appealing to minors, and allows for government-to-government negotiations with tribes on these prohibitions. The bill also increases various licensing fees for distributors and retailers of tobacco and vapor products, prohibits the distribution of coupons for free cigarettes, tobacco products, or vapor products in retail transactions, and bans the provision of any free item or product as part of a sale of these regulated products. Finally, it allocates portions of tobacco product tax revenue to specific funds, including the Andy Hill cancer research endowment fund, the foundational public health services account, and the youth tobacco and vapor products prevention account, with provisions to ensure these accounts meet certain annual funding targets.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2439&Year=2025&Initiative=false