The following bills had action recently by state legislatures:

Arizona: The following bills died due to missing a procedural deadline on February 17, 2017: House Bill 2335, which increases the age for purchase, use and possession of tobacco products (including e-cigarettes) to 21 and extends the smoking ban to include e-cigarettes; Senate Bill 1516, which extends the state smoking ban to include use of e-cigarettes; and Senate Bill 1517, which imposes a new excise tax on e-cigarettes of 95% of the wholesale price.

Hawaii: House Bill 246, which, as amended, effective January 1, 2018, imposes a new excise tax of an unspecified percentage of the wholesale price on e-cigarettes and related products and requires retailers to obtain permits, passed the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce on February 17, 2017. House Bill 1495, which, as amended, prohibits the shipping of tobacco products (including e-cigarettes) to anyone other than a wholesaler, distributor or licensed retailer, passed the House Committee on Health on February 14, 2017. Senate Bill 871, which changes the excise tax on large cigars (currently 50% of the wholesale price) to the lesser of 50% of the wholesale price or 50 cents, passed the Senate on February 16, 2017.

Indiana: On February 20, 2017, the House Ways and Means Committee amended House Bill 1578 to remove the $1.50 cigarette tax increase and delete a provision raising the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21 and also amended the state budget bill to include a $1.00 per pack cigarette tax increase with a “do pass” recommendation. Senate Bill 1, which removes date restrictions in the e-liquids statutes and removes certain requirements for an initial e-liquids manufacturing permit, was reported “do pass” from the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 23, 2017.

Mississippi: House Bills 87 and 190, both of which increase the minimum legal sales age to 21, died in committee on January 31, 2017.

New Jersey: Assembly Bill 3704, which prohibits the sale or distribution of flavored electronic smoking devices, is set for a hearing in the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee on February 27, 2017.

New Mexico: Senate Bill 319, which increases the legal age to purchase cigarettes and electronic cigarettes from 18 to 21 years of age, passed the Senate Public Affairs on February 22, 2017 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee where it has not yet been considered. Senate Bill 318, which includes electronic cigarettes in the Clean Indoor Air Act, received a “Do Pass as Substituted” recommendation from the Senate Public Affairs Committee on February 22, 2017 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee where it has not yet been considered.

North Dakota: Senate Bill 2328, which requires a license to sell vapor products, passed the Senate and was referred to the House Judiciary Committee on February 20, 2017.

Washington: House Bill 1054, which would increase the legal age to purchase tobacco products and vapor products from 18 to 21 years of age, was considered in a public hearing in the House Finance Committee on February 20, 2017.

West Virginia: Senate Bill 37, which would increase the legal age to purchase tobacco and vapor products from 18 to 21, was referred to Senate Finance Committee on February 17, 2017.