The regulatory landscape for tobacco in the United States is notably complex, involving multiple layers of authority that sometimes come into conflict. At the federal level, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches, under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives create federal tobacco laws, but states and local governments – such as cities and counties – have the liberty to implement a more restrictive legislation. This often results in a patchwork of rules and enforcement timelines, with some state laws lagging behind federal regulations and some cities enacting stricter laws before their states or even the federal government take action. Federal laws generally address product standards, labeling, and manufacturing practices. State laws typically govern excise taxes, smoking bans, and the adoption of federal requirements, while local laws focus on retail tobacco licenses, zoning restrictions for tobacco retailers, and in some rare cases, flavor bans. These overlapping and sometimes contradictory regulations can create tension among federal, state, and local lawmakers, especially when opinions differ on the appropriate level of tobacco control.
Below is a summary of the latest proposals and approved changes in tobacco legislation and regulation at the state and local levels in the United States:
Alabama
| Date | Level | Change |
| January 2026 | Local: Sylacauga | The City Council approves a moratorium on new business licenses for tobacco, vape and liquor stores in the city limits for a period of six month |
| June 2025 | Local: Montgomery | Montgomery Mayor vetoes the moratorium on vape shops voted in the City Council. Similar moratoriums were passed in Pike Road, Prattville, and Millbrook |
| June 2025 | State | Governor signs House Bill HB357 into law. The Bill defines “heated tobacco products” and imposes $0.017 per stick ($0.34 per pack) excise tax on these products from November 1, 2025. Additional county excise tax rate is set at half the state rate in any county that levies a local tobacco tax and additional municipal excise tax is set at half the local municipal tax rate or license fee applied to the sale of cigarettes in any municipality that levies a local tobacco tax. Regular cigarettes are taxed at $0.68 for a pack of 20 in Alabama |
| May 2025 | State | Governor signs House Bill HB8 into law. A new law allowing only the sale of 34 tobacco and menthol-flavored e-cigarette products approved by the U.S. FDA is set to take effect June 1, 2025. All other products are to be banned from sale except in age-restricted vape shops. Other changes include the ban of the sale of vapor products in vending machines; increased penalties for selling to consumers under 21; vape products sold in the state to be U.S.-manufactured; and retailers required to obtain licenses to sell alternative nicotine products. However, days before the implementation date, the Petroleum and Convenience Marketers of Alabama filed federal suit challenging the legislation, claiming the new law is unconstitutional on two counts: (1) restricting the sale of many e-cigarettes to adult-only specialty retailers is preempted by federal law, (2) prohibiting the sale of any new nicotine product that contains any component manufactured outside the United States, unless the product has FDA-marketing authorization, is unconstitutional. As a result of the filing, the State agreed to allow c-stores to continue to sell all products on the FDA’s “pending” list or Alabama’s Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) Directory |
| April 2025 | State | Alabama State Senate committee advances a vaping regulation bill that would amend state law regarding the sale and regulation of tobacco, alternative nicotine products and vapor products. The Bill moves to the Senate for consideration |
| July 2024 | Local: Hoover | City Council passes a six-month moratorium on issuing new business licenses for CBD and vape shops while city officials explore appropriate regulations for those businesses |
| May 2021 | State | Governor signs Tobacco 21 legislation into law, raising the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products from 19 to 21. The new legislation also prohibits advertising targeted to consumers under 21 |
Alaska
| Date | Level | Change |
| May 2026 | State | Effective July 1, 2026, synthetic nicotine products and nicotine substitutes will be taxed at the other tobacco products tax rate of 75% of the wholesale price in Alaska. Electronic smoking products and vapor products will be taxed at 25% of the retail sales price, effective July 1, 2027 |
| May 2023 | State | A Senate Bill, imposing a tax on electronic smoking products and vapor products at the rate of 25% of the sales price and capping the amount of nicotine in vapor products at 50 mg/ml, fails at the House of Representatives |
| September 2022 | State | Governor vetoes a bill that would impose a 35% tax on the wholesale price of electronic cigarette and vaping products, including e-liquids, and restrict shipping options for Alaskan vapers. The Bill would increase the legal age to purchase and possess tobacco and vaping products to 21 |
| May 2022 | State | A Tobacco 21 bill, which raises the state’s minimum legal age to buy tobacco products from 19 to 21, will go into effect on July 1, 2023 if signed into law |
| November 2020 | Local: Anchorage | Lawmakers adopt an ordinance to include electronic cigarettes and vapor products in the city’s existing tobacco tax. Tobacco vaping devices and e-cigarettes, as well as the liquids and cartridges, will be taxed at 55% of the wholesale price |
Arizona
| Date | Level | Change |
| May 2026 | State | A new Bill approved in the State House and Senate sets a regulatory framework for alternative nicotine products, which are defined as any noncombustible product that contains nicotine and that is intended for human consumption whether chewed, absorbed, dissolved or ingested. The Bill also places alternative nicotine products under the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control’s authority and imposes age (21+) verification requirements |
| September 2025 | State | As of September 26, 2025, the State law prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to youth increased the minimum age to 21. The federal law increased the minimum age to 21 in 2019 |
| May 2025 | State | The Arizona House of Representatives gives the preliminary approval to a bill that would raise the age to buy or possess cigarettes and other tobacco products to 21. One amendment to the bill will include an exception, with some restrictions, for those 18 years or older who are active in the military or in the reserves. The measure is up for a final vote in the House of Representatives before heading to the Arizona Senate |
| February 2023 | State | Bills to require tobacco and e-cigarette retailers to obtain a license from the state Department of Health Services and allow local jurisdictions to further regulate tobacco fail at the State’s legislature |
| September 2022 | Local: Tempe | A new ordinance, if approved, will ban businesses from selling flavored vape products in Tempe city limits |
| May 2021 | State | Senate approves legislation that requires retailers to obtain a license to sell tobacco, vapor or alternative nicotine products. The bill also prohibits municipalities form regulating the sale and marketing of tobacco products. The bill will next be discussed at the Arizona House of Representatives |
Arkansas
| Date | Level | Change |
| Jan 2020 | State | The Governor clarifies that the new federal law regarding the purchasing age for tobacco and vaping products supersedes the 2019 Arkansas law which sets the minimum purchasing age to 21 but excludes individuals who turn 19 by the end of 2019 or are active-duty military. The Governor also directs the office of Arkansas Tobacco Control to “advise all retailers and the public that the minimum age to buy tobacco products is 21” |
California
| Date | Level | Change |
| March 2026 | Local: Lakeport | Lake County initiates compliance monitoring, inspections and enforcement activities for the tobacco retailer licensing ordinance |
| February 2026 | Local: Richmond | The City Council moves to overhaul the city’s tobacco laws, approving an ordinance that enacts a strict 50-store limit citywide and higher fines for the sale of flavored vapes and under-the-counter drugs. In addition, shelf space for tobacco products will be limited to 20% in new shops |
| October 2025 | State | A Bill is signed into law to enhance the state’s regulation of tobacco product licensing and enforcement. Retail licensing fee is increased to $450, effective July 1, 2026. A report on retailer inspection will be prepared to increase enforcement by December 1, 2027 |
| October 2025 | Local: Tiburon | The City Council voted to ban the sale of all tobacco products – including vapes and nicotine pouches. Tiburon will become the third locality in California – after Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach – to ban all tobacco products, if the the Town Council approves the measure in November 2025 |
| October 2025 | Local: Riverside | Moratorium on new tobacco retail permits is extended until September 15, 2026 |
| October 2025 | Local: Santa Cruz County | Santa Cruz County will enact the world’s first ban on the sale of filtered cigarettes in 2027. The County approved the ban in October of 2024, on the stipulation that at least two other local governments follow suit. Subsequently, Santa Cruz and Capitola passed the ban in September 2025. The County aims to eliminate the microplastics released by the discarded cigarette butts which harms the wildlife and contaminates the waterways & human food chain |
| August 2025 | State | Tobacco companies are required to have their products listed on the California Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL) in order to legally sell tobacco products after January 1, 2026. Tobacco companies will be required to pay a $300 application fee for the first year and a $150 annual renewal fee thereafter. Based on the submission of the product specifications, California Attorney General’s Office will certify that the products meeting the California’s law that bans most products with characterizing flavors other than tobacco |
| August 2025 | Local: La Habra | La Habra imposes a temporary moratorium on smoke shops while officials examine stricter policies aimed at curbing underage tobacco use. La Habra officials considers requiring permits, imposing distancing regulations or even enacting a permanent ban. La Habra has 68 state-licensed tobacco retailers, with 20 that operate exclusively as smoke shops |
| June 2025 | Local: Mountain View | Mountain View considers a ban on the sale of all flavored tobacco, electronic cigarettes and vape related products |
| May 2025 | Local: South City | South City (San Francisco) officially updates its tobacco retail ordinance, more closely aligning it with San Mateo County’s policy, which prohibits issuing new tobacco permits for any operation within 1,000 feet of a “youth-populated area” and within 500 feet of another tobacco retailer. It also prohibits sales of synthetic nicotine, non-nicotine electronic smoking devices and hookah |
| March 2025 | Local: Campbell | The Campbell City Council approves a temporary ban to prevent new tobacco retailers from opening in the city until at least mid-May 2025. The pause allows time for potential updates to the city’s tobacco policy, including how close tobacco retailers can be to schools, reducing their number per capita and restricting how many can be near one another. Existing tobacco retailers will not be affected from any changes |
| January 2025 | Local: El Cajon | The El Cajon City Council weighs a draft ordinance prohibiting tobacco retailers from selling, offering for sale or possessing with intent to sell any vaping or electronic smoking device that resembles everyday items like pens, markers and USB drives. If passed, violations could result in steep penalties, including fines of up to $2,500 and potential revocation of a retailer’s tobacco license |
| December 2024 | Local: Burlingame | The Burlingame City Council updates the tobacco retailer ordinance program, allowing for businesses to indefinitely transfer existing ones to new owners. Tobacco retailers will also be able to relocate and sell their products with more flexible parameters: the new location need only be 250 feet away from youth-populated areas (as opposed to 500 feet of existing stores or 1,000 feet from youth-populated areas). Ban on new permits is upheld |
| December 2024 | Local: Lakeport | The Lakeport City Council approves a tobacco retailer licensing ordinance. From January 1, 2025, the measure requires tobacco retailers to obtain and display a valid tobacco retailer license and prohibits them from selling any flavored tobacco products. It also bans selling tobacco to a person under 21 or placing any tobacco products within five feet of “youth appealing products”, such as toys, snacks or nonalcoholic beverages. Moreover, smoking is not allowed within 25 feet of any retail establishment licensed under this ordinance. Violations carry penalties |
| July 2024 | Local: Oxnard | The City Council will vote on limiting the number of permits for tobacco retailers in the city to 100, potentially reducing the number of outlets by more than a third over time. This would take place as new permits are sought and stores are sold or closed. The cap would not reduce the number of establishments that currently exist |
| October 2023 | State | Governor signs a bill which enforces the state flavored tobacco ban in a similar manner as underage sales are enforced. The law becomes effective January 1, 2024 |
| October 2023 | Local: Sonoma County | The Board of Supervisors approves a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco in unincorporated areas of the county. The county’s ordinance further restricts the sales for 79 licensed tobacco retailers (or 23% of total tobacco retailers) in Sonoma County. The measure goes into effect December 7, 2023 |
| September 2023 | Local: Temecula | The City Council tentatively approves an updated tobacco ordinance that restricts the number of smoke shops that can open in the city to one per 10,000 Temecula residents, keeps smoke shops out of local neighborhoods and away from sensitive areas like schools and bans neon signs that promote tobacco products |
| September 2022 | Local: Santa Clara | The County of Santa Clara increases the penalties for businesses that sell tobacco products to minors (under age 21) through its Tobacco Retail Permit (TRP) program |
| July 2022 | Local: San Jose | The ban on flavored tobacco products (first approved in the City Council in September 2021) takes effect in July 1, 2022. The ban exempts shisha, hookah and flavored cigars from the restriction |
| June 2022 | Local: Los Angeles | Mayor signs into law the ban on flavored tobacco product sales in the City, except for hookah lounges. The ban goes into effect on January 1, 2023. Possession or use of flavored tobacco for people over the age of 21 is not prohibited |
| June 2022 | Local: San Diego | Mayor signs an ordinance restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products. The ordinance, known as the Stop Adolescent Addiction to Flavored E-Cigarettes Act, makes it unlawful for retailers within the city to sell or distribute specified flavored tobacco products from January 1, 2023. The ban includes any tobacco product that emits a taste or smell other than that of tobacco – such fruit, mint, candy, vanilla, dessert, alcoholic beverage, spice and menthol. The ordinance does not apply to the sale of shisha (typically used in hookahs), premium cigars or loose-leaf tobacco |
| June 2022 | Local: Scotts Valley | The City Council votes in favor of a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products. The new rule goes into effect on July 15, 2022. The measure covers products with a taste or smell other than the taste or smell of tobacco |
| March 2022 | Local: Antioch | The City Council approves the legislation prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products. Additionally, it will be prohibited to sell fewer than six cigars or 20 little cigars, including cigarillos, or any packages of them for less than $10. Seperately, the council approves a measure prohibiting new tobacco businesses from opening within 1,000 feet of schools |
| March 2022 | Local: Monterey County | The Board of Supervisors approves an ordinance banning the sale of flavored tobacco products and single-use electronic cigarettes in unincorporated areas of the county |
| March 2022 | Local: Santa Ana | The City Council approves a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products |
| February 2022 | State | Committee on Health and the Committee on Judiciary reviews a bill that would prohibit the sale of single-use vapor products and tobacco filters |
| January 2022 | Local: Sacramento County | The County Board of Supervisors votes to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes. The new law goes into effect in July 2022. A similar ban is in effect in the city of Sacramento since 2020 |
| December 2021 | Local: Goleta | City Council revisits its flavored tobacco ban after a referendum petition was filed against the measure |
| November 2021 | Local: Petaluma | The City Council adopts an ordinance to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, require tobacco retailers to obtain annual licenses and set a minimum price of $10 for a pack of cigarettes, $2 for little cigars and $5 for regular-sized cigars, including taxes and fees. The new rules go into effect on July 6, 2022 |
| November 2021 | Local: Walnut | The Creek City Council votes in favor of a proposal to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco and vapor products in the city, except for hookah businesses |
| October 2021 | State | Governor approves a 12.5% tax on electronic cigarettes and vapor products, bringing the tax in line with other tobacco products |
| September 2021 | Local: Goleta | The City Council votes in favor of a proposal to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products |
| July 2021 | Local: La Verne | The City Council votes in favor of a measure to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in the city. The ban, which includes vape pens and other devices used to consume flavored tobacco, goes into effect in January 2022. Menthol cigarettes and hookah products are exempt from the ban |
| June 2021 | Local: Long Beach | The City Council approves a permanent ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products, except for hookah products, pipe tobacco and some cigars. The enforcement is set to begin in three months |
| February 2021 | Local: West Hollywood | The City Council approves an ordinance prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes and except for shisha tobacco. The Council also prohibits the use of tobacco coupons or discounts |
| January 2021 | Local: Manhattan Beach | The ban on the sale of tobacco products goes into effect on January 1, 2021. The Manhattan City Council approved the ban in February 2020, but allowed a temporary reprieve for retailers |
| December 2020 | Local: San Diego | The County Supervisors approves a tobacco retail licensing program (TRL) for the unincorporated area of the county. The TRL will cap the number of establishments that can sell tobacco products to 330 businesses and ban the placement of tobacco vending machines. Businesses that have onsite pharmacies will no longer be allowed to sell tobacco products. The new regulations will go into effect in July 2021 |
| October 2020 | Local: San Mateo | The City Council adopts a measure banning the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes and tobacco products, including menthol. The city will begin enforcing the ordinance on January 1, 2021 |
| September 2020 | Local: Mill Valley | The City Council votes to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products. The measure also prohibits the sale of tobacco products at pharmacies |
| August 2020 | Local: Pleasanton | The City Council votes to ban the retail sale of flavored tobacco products within city limits and establish a tobacco retailer license. Both measures will go into effect on January 1, 2021. New rules also require cigars be sold in packages of five and cigarillos in packages of 20 |
| July 2020 | Local: Hayward | The City Council approves a measure to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products, including vapor products. The ordinance would also prohibit the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies and drug stores |
| June 2020 | Local: El Monte | The City Council passes an ordinance that would prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco and nicotine products, including menthol |
| May 2020 | Local: Culver City | The city’s prohibition on the sale of flavored tobacco goes into effect on May 25, 2020. Under the new rule, only tobacco shops are allowed to sell flavored tobacco products until November 2020 |
| May 2020 | Local: Oakland | The City Council approves a measure to ban the sale of flavored and menthol tobacco products at tobacco stores and pharmacies. The vote closes a loophole in a 2017 ordinance that prohibited the sale of flavored tobacco in the city, but exempted adult-only tobacco stores |
| May 2020 | Local: Pleasanton | The City Council approves an ordinance banning the sale of flavored tobacco products. The ban goes into effect on January 21, 2021 |
| May 2020 | Local: Solana Beach | A ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products goes into effect |
| April 2020 | Local: Elk Grove | The City Council votes to extend the moratorium permits, licenses or entitlements for new smoking lounges, smoke shops and tobacco retailers until March 12, 2021 |
| February 2020 | Local: Manhattan Beach | The City Council adopts an ordinance banning all tobacco sales within the Manhattan Beach limits. The measure goes into effect on January 1, 2021 |
| January 2020 | Local: Imperial Beach | Local lawmakers votes to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products. The ban goes into effect in six months |
| January 2020 | Local: Oroville | The City Council approves an measure banning the sale of flavored tobacco, including menthol. The ban goes in February 2020 |
| January 2020 | Local: San Diego | The Board of Supervisors votes in favor of a one-year moratorium on the sale and distribution of e-cigarette and vapor products in unincorporated areas of San Diego County. The move also prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products and outdoor smoking at restaurants from July 1, 2020 |
| January 2020 | Local: San Luis Obispo County | The Board of Supervisors bans electronic cigarettes and public smoking in all public areas. The amended ordinance goes into effect on February 13, 2020. The San Luis Obispo City Council introduces a bill to ban the sales of all flavored and non-flavored e-cigarettes |
| January 2020 | Local: St. Helena | The City Council works on a draft ordinance to ban the sale of flavored tobacco and considers a possible ban on the underage possession of electronic cigarettes and incentives to local retailers to stop selling vapor products |
Colorado
| Date | Level | Change |
| March 2026 | Local: Aurora | City lawmakers approves a crackdown on sales of nicotine products to underage and limitations on the stores that primarily sell vapor & herbal products |
| January 2026 | Local: Denver | Enforcement of the local flavored tobacco ban started on January 1, 2026 with both public-facing and undercover investigations to retailers to ensure compliance |
| November 2025 | Local: Denver | With nearly 70% voting in favor, Denver residents reaffirmed the council’s decision that prohibits the sale of flavored nicotine products, including menthol cigarettes and vapes. With voter approval secured, enforcement of the ban will begin in January 2026 |
| August 2025 | Local: Eagle | Town council passes a ban on flavored tobacco, effective January 1, 2026, in a move meant to limit youth consumption of nicotine. Eagle is the 14th Colorado municipality to pass restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco products – following Aspen, Boulder, Breckenridge, Carbondale, Denver, Dillon, Edgewater, Frisco, Glenwood Springs, Golde, Keystone, Silverthorne and Snowmass Village. In November 2025, Denver voters will weigh in on whether to repeal a ban passed by city council last year. |
| April 2025 | Local: Denver | Denver voters will weigh in this year on a law passed by the Denver City Council to end the sale of flavored tobacco. The ban went into effect March 18, 2025. Sufficient number of signatures are collected to call the Denver residents to vote on the ban. The city council will decide whether to put the ban on vote on the November ballot or call a special session on a different date |
| January 2025 | State | The State Senate Finance Committee weighs a bill to reduce the tax on premium cigars to 20% of the manufacturer’s list price |
| December 2024 | Local: Denver | The Denver City Council bans the sale of flavored tobacco products, which includes e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, vapor products, and other flavored nicotine and tobacco products. Denver joins seven other Colorado cities that have restricted or prohibited flavored tobacco product sales: Aspen, Boulder, Carbondale, Edgewater, Glenwood Springs, Golden and Snowmass |
| October 2024 | Local: Denver | Denver City Council’s Budget and Policy Committee is working on a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products. In 2021, the Denver City Council approved a similar ban but it was vetoed by the Mayor |
| June 2024 | State | Effective July 1, 2024, excise tax rate increases from $1.94 to $2.24 per pack for cigarettes and from 50% to 56% of the wholesale price for other tobacco products, vapes and nicotine pouches. The minimum price, including all applicable taxes, for cigarettes increases from $7.0 to $7.5 per pack. In addition, 50% tax discount is set for products that have received a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration |
| January 2024 | State | A State Senate seeks to allow Colorado counties to regulate or prohibit the sale and distribution of flavored cigarettes, tobacco and nicotine products. A similar bill failed to pass the Senate in 2022 |
| May 2022 | State | The Senate Appropriations Committee rejects a legislation that would have prohibited the sale of flavored tobacco products in the state |
| December 2021 | Local: Denver | Mayor vetoes the ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products and accessories |
| November 2021 | Local: Denver | The City Council approves a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco |
| December 2020 | Local: Loveland | The City Council postpones a vote on a proposed ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products |
| July 2020 | State | Governor signs the Tobacco 21 measure to increase the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 and a ballot proposal to raise the state’s tobacco taxes |
| June 2020 | State | State lawmakers in both legislative houses approve a bid to place a tobacco tax increase on the ballot in November 2020. The proposal would also establish a tax on non-tobacco nicotine products, including as electronic cigarettes and vapor products |
| April 2020 | Local: Carbondale | Local voters approve a new cigarette and tobacco tax: a $4 levy per cigarette pack and a 40% tax on all other products containing nicotine from July 1, 2020 |
| March 2020 | Local: New Castle | The Town Council announces a temporary holiday sales tax for tobacco and nicotine products |
| February 2020 | Local: Boulder | The City Council approves the requirement for tobacco retailers to obtain a city license to sell tobacco and a 40% sales tax on vapor products from July 2020 |
Connecticut
| Date | Level | Change |
| September 2024 | Local: Milford | The Planning and Zoning Board prohibits the opening of any new smoke shops, tobacco stores and vape shops in the city. The change does not affect the 15 existing outlets |
| May 2024 | State | Governor signs a bill into law that requires online prevention education for electronic nicotine delivery system dealer registration (for a new applicant or a renewal). Effective October 1, 2025, it requires that at least one authorized owner or named designee to complete the education program |
| January 2023 | State | A bill is introduced to prohibit the sale of electronic nicotine delivery systems and vapor products that are flavored or have a nicotine content greater than 35 milligrams per milliliter |
| June 2021 | Local: Bridgeport | The City Council drops a bid to prohibit flavored tobacco products as a statewide ban falters. The ordinance would have made Bridgeport the first municipality in Connecticut to enact a flavor ban |
| May 2021 | State | The General Assembly’s Finance Committee revises legislation to prohibit the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes and vapor products. If signed into law, the prohibition goes into effect on January 1, 2022 |
| March 2021 | State | The Connecticut General Assembly considers a vote on the future of flavored tobacco products, including vapor |
Delaware
| Date | Level | Change |
| July 2026 | Local: Newark | Following an increase in the concentration of tobacco/vape stores in certain commercial areas, the Newark City Council adopted an ordinance requiring tobacco retailers and vape stores to have a “Special Use Permit” |
| February 2026 | State | A House bill seeks to increase the state tax from $2.10 to $3.60 per pack for cigarettes, from $0.92 to $1.23 per ounce for moist snuff, from 5 cents to 10 cents per milliliter for vapor products and from 30% to 40% of the wholesale price for other tobacco products. Moreover, the legal definition of taxable tobacco products would expand to include nicotine-derived items such as nicotine pouches. If approved, the new tax rates will take effect September 1, 2026. |
| June 2025 | State | House Bill 215 seeks to increase: (1) the tax on cigarettes from $2.10 to $3.60 for a pack of 20 cigarettes; (2) tax on vapor products from 5 cents to 25 cents per ml; (3) tax on moist snuff from 92 cents to $1.23 per ounce and the tax rate for all other tobacco products from 30% to 45% of the wholesale price. The increased tax rates will take effect on September 1, 2025 if the Bill goes through |
Florida
| Date | Level | Change |
| February 2026 | State | A bill that differentiates heated tobacco products from traditional cigarettes cleared the House subcommittee. The change would tax heated tobacco products at a lower rate than $1.34 per pack. If cleared at the Commerce Committee, the Bill will move to the House of Representatives. A twin Senate bill is also under legislative review |
| January 2026 | State | A bill to lower taxes on heated tobacco products advances in the Florida State Senate. The Bill will create a legal category of “heated tobacco products” that will be taxed similarly to vapes. Currently, heated tobacco products are taxed more in line with cigarettes in the state |
| March 2024 | State | A proposed bill would require nicotine product manufacturers to execute and deliver a form, under penalty of perjury, to the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation for each product sold within the state which meets certain criteria. It also requires the division to develop and maintain a directory listing of certified nicotine product manufacturers and certified nicotine products |
| September 2022 | Local: St. Petersburg | The City Council approves a draft ordinance banning smoking and vaping at all city parks and beaches from January 1, 2023 |
| October 2021 | State | The Tobacco 21 rule goes into effect on October 1, 2021. The new law bans the purchasing and possessing of tobacco products for consumers under 21 years old. The law also requires retail owners to obtain a permit from the state to sell nicotine products |
| April 2021 | State | The Tobacco 21 rule is approved at both the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives. The new rule raises the state’s legal age to 21 and preempts local lawmakers from passing protections stricter than state law |
| January 2021 | Local: Stuart | City commissioners approve an ordinance raising the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21. The new rule goes into effect immediately |
| August 2020 | Local: Vero Beach | The City Council approves an ordinance to increase the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 |
| January 2020 | State | The Senate reviews a bill to raise the state’s legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 |
Georgia
| Date | Level | Change |
| June 2025 | State | A bill is proposed to raise the state’s tax on cigarettes from 37 cents to $1.37 a pack. The previous bills [that seek cigarette tax increase] have failed in Georgia |
| August 2024 | Local: Woodstock | The City Council approves a temporary ban on new tobacco specialty store businesses and cannabidiol (CBD) retail business. The 120-day moratorium would allow the city to determine the appropriate locations in zoning districts throughout the city |
| June 2020 | State | Senate and House of Representatives vote to levy a tax of up to 7% on vapor products and increase the legal tobacco buying age to 21. A proposal to hike the state’s cigarette excise tax from 37 cents to $1.35 per pack fails |
| January 2020 | State | A bill is introduced in the State to increase the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 |
Hawaii
| Date | Level | Change |
| June 2026 | State | A new bill prohibiting disposable electronic smoking devices, effective January 1, 2027, is awaiting Governor’s sign-off. The amended version defines “disposable electronic smoking device” as a nonrefillable device with a non-rechargeable battery and is intended to be disposed of after the contents inside the electronic smoking device have been used. The definition does not include vapor products that have received a marketing granted order by the U.S. FDA. Another bill, also awaiting the Governor’s sign-off, creates a vapor directory – effective January 1, 2027 – to permit only products that have received an FDA marketing granted |
| February 2025 | Local: Maui | Maui County Mayor signs a bill to prohibit retailers from selling or marketing flavored tobacco products and mislabeling products as nicotine-free. The ordinance would take effect 42 days after a repeal of any state statutes related to preempting county ordinances on the sale of tobacco products occurs |
| February 2024 | State | A bill that increases the cigarette tax from $3.20 to $3.60 per pack passes the state House Finance Committee |
| June 2023 | State | Governor signs into law legislation banning the import of electronic cigarettes and other tobacco products without a license. Under the new legislation, a person who knowingly and unlawfully ships vaping and other tobacco products valued at less than $10,000 could face misdemeanor charges; items valued above $10,000 would be classified as a class C felony. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2023 |
| May 2022 | State | A legislation to ban flavored vapor products, except for the products that receive authorization to remain on the market from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), passes the state legislature and is under review by the Governor |
Idaho
| Date | Level | Change |
| February 2025 | State | A bill that would require the state to publish an “Illegal Electronic Smoking Device Brand List” by July 1, 2025 is referred to the Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee. Brands that would be included on the list are ones that received U.S. Food and Drug Administration enforcement notices. Products on the list would not be allowed to be sold from September 1, 2025 |
| March 2022 | State | Senate approves a legislation increasing the minimum legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21. The Tobacco 21 measure, which brings the state in line with the federal age, will next be discussed at the State House of Representatives |
| April 2021 | State | The House of Representatives rejects a Tobacco 21 bill which raises the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 and preempts the local governments from imposing more stringent regulations or taxes on the sale of tobacco products than what the state imposes |
Illinois
| Date | Level | Change |
| July 2025 | State | Tax rate on other tobacco products will be raised from 36% to 45% on the wholesale price, effective July 1, 2025, and the vape products (currently, taxed at 15% of the wholesale price) and nicotine pouches will also be included under the new tax scheme in Illinois. The state tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes remains unchanged at $2.98 |
| May 2024 | Local: Normal Town | The Town Council approves a new ordinance that would require tobacco stores to apply for licenses. Tobacco shops will have to be 1,500 feet away from each other and 200 feet away from daycares and schools. It does not apply to gas stations, or places that have less than 15% of their display devoted to tobacco products |
| October 2023 | Local: Evanston | The City Council votes to introduce a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products in the city |
| July 2023 | Local: Peoria | The City Council declares a temporary moratorium on granting tobacco licenses while a measure is drafted to limit the number of standalone tobacco/vape shops in the city |
| June 2023 | Local: Evanston | The City Council demands an ordinance banning the sale of flavored tobacco products in the city |
| August 2021 | State | Governor signs Senate Bills SB 512 and SB 555 into law, establishing regulations on electronic cigarettes by prohibiting marketing that targets children and ensuring retailers’ compliance with the state’s minimum purchasing age of 21 |
| May 2021 | State | House of Representatives passes a bill that would ban ads for vapor products that are aimed toward underage users. The bill also requires vape shops to proof customers for 21 or older when they purchase vapor products and prohibits vape shops from offering coupons for vapor products in the store. The bill will next be discussed at the Senate |
| June 2020 | Local: Wichita | The City Council votes to increase the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 |
Indiana
| Date | Level | Change |
| June 2026 | State | A Bill is signed into law a bill to include modern vaporizer devices among tobacco products and increase penalties for tobacco sales to under 21 |
| June 2025 | State | As of July 1, 2025, the state’s cigarette tax triples from $0.995 to $2.995 per pack, while taxes on cigars, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products will also be raised [see below for further details] |
| April 2025 | State | State lawmakers amends a budget bill raising the tax on cigarettes for the first time in nearly 20 years. The change was subsequently adopted by the Indiana State Senate and the Indiana House of Representatives. With an effective date of July 1, 2025, the tax increases are as follow: from $0.995 to $2.995 per pack for cigarettes; from 24% to 30% of the wholesale price for other tobacco products; from 40 cents to 50 cents per ounce for moist snuff; from 24% to 30% of the wholesale price and a tax cap raised from $1 to $3 per piece for cigars; from 40 cents to 50 cents per ounce for alternative nicotine products (nicotine pouches); from 15% to 30% of the wholesale price for vapes |
| January 2025 | State | A bill is introduced to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in the state. It would apply to cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco and snuff, as well as electronic versions of such products. The Bill is referred to the Indiana House Committee on Public Policy and, if enacted, the ban would go into effect on July 1, 2025 |
| December 2024 | Local: Terre Haute | The Terre Haute City Council proposes a new ordinance limiting the number of vape shops to one in a one-mile radius. Moreover, any vape shop would have to register with the city |
| February 2023 | State | Senate passes a cigarette tax evasion bill, defining unlawful transportation of cigarettes with the state’s tax stamp as a felony. The felony class depends on the number of cigarettes involved |
| April 2022 | State | Governor signs a legislation decreasing the 25% tax on the wholesale price for closed-system vaping cartridges to 15% |
| February 2021 | State | The House of Representatives approves the state budget that includes a 50-cent increase in the cigarette excise levy and a 10% retail tax in electronic cigarettes and e-liquids. The Budget will next be discussed at the Senate |
| February 2020 | State | State legislators agree on a proposal to double the fines tobacco retailers could face for selling tobacco to anyone under 21 years old – from $200 to $400 for a first violation |
| January 2020 | State | The House of Representatives approves a bill that redefines tobacco products to include vaping devices and liquids, regardless of whether they contain nicotine; increases penalties for selling tobacco products to consumers under 21; replaces the state’s three-year permit to sell tobacco with an annual license; and limits where tobacco shops can operate (i.e. at least 1,000 feet away from a school) |
Iowa
| Date | Level | Change |
| April 2026 | State | An Iowa State Senate bill proposes a 5-cent excise tax on alternative nicotine products. The tax would apply on a per-unit basis to disposable vapes and pods, but not to components, parts, or accessories unless sold with a substance containing tobacco, nicotine, or nicotine analogs. |
| February 2026 | State | The Governor’s call to raise state taxes on cigarettes & other tobacco products and impose a new 15% sales tax on vaping products & consumable hemp products has narrowly failed in the Senate committee |
| April 2025 | State | An Iowa State Senate committee recommends lawmakers pass a bill that defines heated tobacco products and imposes a tax of 3.4 cents per heat stick (68 cents per pack) |
| October 2024 | Local: Iowa City | City Council is considering to introduce new limits on tobacco permits |
| May 2024 | Local: Iowa City | The City Council approves a temporary suspension of new tobacco retail permits. New businesses will be able request a permit to sell vapes and nicotine products only after January 2025 if the moratorium is not extended |
| March 2024 | State | A subcommittee of the State House Committee on Ways and Means passes a bill that would create a new definition for heated tobacco products – which would be included in the other tobacco products (OTP) category and taxed at a rate of 50% of the wholesale sales price |
| February 2024 | State | A subcommittee of the Ways & Means Committee approves a bill requiring vapor product manufacturers to certify with the state that their product has either received marketing authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the manufacturer has submitted a premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) for the vapor product that was marketed as of August 8, 2016, to the FDA on or before September 9, 2020, and the application remains under review by the agency or in appeal. The bill also states that, beginning October 1, 2024, the sale of any vapor product not listed in the directory is prohibited. Retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers would also be subject to penalties for selling unlisted products |
| July 2020 | State | Governor signs Tobacco 21 legislation into law, bringing the state’s legal minimum age to buy tobacco products in line with the new federal rule |
Kansas
| Date | Level | Change |
| January 2026 | State | A bill seeks to amend the Kansas Cigarette and Tobacco Products Act to include vapor products and require retailers and manufacturers selling vapor products to obtain a state-issued license |
| February 2024 | State | The House Federal and State Affairs Committee reviews a bill that would require vapor product manufacturers to certify with the state that they have either received marketing authorization from the FDA or the vapor product was marketed in the U.S. as of August 8, 2016, and the manufacturer has submitted a PMTA to the FDA on or before September 9, 2020. Beginning November 1, 2024, the directory of all certified vapor products would become public and would prohibit the sale of any vapor product not included in the directory beginning January 1, 2025 |
| March 2023 | Local: Wichita | The City Council approves tobacco ordinance changes, including holding tobacco retailers and managers initially responsible for underage sales, rather than penalizing individual employees |
| March 2022 | State | The House of Representatives approves Tobacco 21 legislation, raising the state’s minimum legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 and introducing a $200 fine for violators (both buyers and sellers). The bill will next be discussed at the Senate |
Kentucky
| Date | Level | Change |
| February 2026 | State | A Senate bill seeks to expand the licensing and enforcement framework for the retail sale of tobacco, nicotine and vapor products, empowering the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to confiscate alternative nicotine products, tobacco products or authorized vapor products if a business operates without a license |
| March 2025 | State | Governor signs a bill creating the Division of Tobacco, Nicotine and Vapor Product Licensing within the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). The Bill authorizes the division to enforce regulations on the sale and distribution of tobacco products, alternative nicotine products and vapor products. The Bill also states that the Department of ABC shall publish a list of retail establishments that possess a tobacco, nicotine or vapor products license on its website |
| January 2024 | State | A House of Representatives bill seeks to require tobacco/vape stores to be licensed by the state. It would also toughen penalties for stores that sell vape or tobacco products to minors. Under the new law, retailer fines would start at $2,000 and the license would be revoked if a store is caught selling to minors three times. Kentucky is one of the 10 states that do not require tobacco or vape retailers to hold a license |
| January 2022 | Local: Louisville | The tobacco retailer license requirement goes into effect on January 1, 2022. The license costs $10 a year |
| April 2020 | State | State lawmakers approve legislation to levy a tax on electronic cigarettes and vapor products. The legislation places a 15% tax on open vaping systems and a $1.50-per-pod tax on cartridges |
| March 2020 | State | Governor signs the Tobacco 21 measure into law, prohibiting sales of tobacco, alternative nicotine and vaping products to anyone under 21 |
| January 2020 | State | The Senate votes to increase the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 and remove status offenses for underage consumer who purchase, use or possess tobacco products. The measure will next be discussed at the House of Representatives |
Louisiana
| Date | Level | Change |
| March 2026 | Local: Baton Rouge | A new bill seeks to expand the definitions of an alternative nicotine product and vapor product to include nicotine analogues and to increase annual permit fees for tobacco wholesalers, retailers and vending machine operators |
| August 2025 | Local: Baton Rouge | The City Council votes in favor of imposing stricter distance requirements on vape stores. Shops that primarily sell tobacco, vapes and similar products are no longer allowed to be within 500 feet of schools, churches, libraries, daycare centers, public parks and other vape shops |
| April 2025 | State | The Louisiana House of Representatives is house weighs two bills: (1) increasing taxes on vaping products from 15 cents per milliliter of nicotine liquid to 33% tax on the wholesale price, (2) increasing taxes on smokeless tobacco products from 20% to 33% of the wholesale (invoice) price. If the bills are signed into law, the vapor tax increase and smokeless tobacco tax increase would take effect on January 1, 2026 and July 1, 2025, respectively |
| May 2024 | State | A bill that would have exempted nicotine pouch products from the vapor product directory fails in the Louisiana State Senate |
| June 2023 | State | Governor signs a bill that increases the tax on electronic cigarettes and vapor products from 5 cents per milliliter of consumable material to 15 cents per milliliter of consumable material. The new rule goes into effect on July 1, 2023 |
| May 2023 | State | Senate Health and Welfare Committee reviews a bill that prohibits the sale of e-liquid vapor products containing a characterizing flavor except tobacco, menthol and mint. Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee reviews a bill that increases the tax on electronic cigarettes and vapor products to 30 cents per milliliter of consumable material |
| June 2021 | State | Governor signs the Tobacco 21 measure into law, raising the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 |
Maine
| Date | Level | Change |
| August 2025 | State | Effective January 5, 2026, the state’s excise tax will increase from $2.00 to $3.50 per pack for cigarettes, from $2.02 per ounce to $3.54 per ounce for smokeless tobacco (moist snuff and chewing tobacco) and from 43% to 75% of the wholesale price for the vapor products and nicotine pouches. The Bill also reduces the cigarette stamp discount rate from 1.11% to 0.66% |
| July 2025 | State | Governor signs a bill into law prohibiting pharmacies from selling tobacco products beginning April 1, 2026. The civil violation will be punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 daily for a pharmacy, or retail establishment that contains a pharmacy, to sell tobacco products |
| June 2025 | State | Joint Committee on Appropriations & Financial Affairs voted to increase the excise tax on cigarettes from $2.0 to $3.5 and implement a corresponding tax increase on other tobacco products in the state budget proposal. Signed into law by the Governor, this is the first tobacco tax increase in Maine in 20 years. Moreover, a bill proposed at the State House seeks to prohibit tobacco product sales in Maine pharmacies as of April 2026 |
| February 2025 | State | State Joint Standing Committee on Taxation votes “ought to pass” on a bill that would modify the tobacco product tax by eliminating the tax imposed on certain products that contain nicotine, but not tobacco |
| January 2025 | State | Governor proposes to raise the state excise tax on tobacco products as part of a two-year budget proposal. The tax hike would increase a pack of cigarettes by $1, with an equivalent bump to the cost of other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. If passed, this would mark the first tax increase since 2005 (when the cigarette tax was increased from $1 to $2 per pack) |
| June 2024 | State | The tax law definition of a “tobacco product” expands to include any product that contains nicotine (natural or synthetic) – subject to the state’s 43% other tobacco product tax. The change goes into effect August 9, 2024 |
| February 2024 | Local: Hallowell | Hallowell becomes the seventh municipality in Maine to ban the sale of flavored tobacco. Bangor, Bar Harbor, Brunswick, Falmouth, Portland and South Portland also have a similar ban in place. An effort to ban flavored tobacco at the state level is under review with the Health and Human Services Committee in the State House of Representatives |
| January 2024 | State | Joint Committee on Taxation reviews a bill that clarifies the tax law definition of “tobacco product” to include any product that contains nicotine, extending the current excise tax to nicotine pouches. Joint Committee on Health and Human Services reviews a seperate bill that bars the State Department of Health and Human Services from issuing a new or renewed retail tobacco license to a retailer operating within 1,000 feet of a school. The Bill does not grandfather in existing license holders |
| December 2023 | Local: Falmouth | Falmouth becomes the sixth Maine community to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products. The new rule will take effect in March 2024 |
| August 2023 | State | State lawmakers offers no support for a bill that seeks to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in Maine as of January 1, 2025 |
| June 2023 | State | A bill that would end the sale of flavored tobacco products in Maine is amended with an effective date of January 1, 2025, and passes the State Senate |
| May 2023 | State | State legislators consider a statewide ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products. Under the proposal, businesses that sell flavored products, not consumers who purchase or possess them, will be penalized |
| January 2023 | State | Lawmakers consider to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products statewide, prohibit municipal flavored tobacco product bans on state-licensed tobacco retailers and prohibit the sale of tobacco products by pharmacies and retail establishments that contain pharmacies. Four cities in Maine have flavored tobacco product bans in place |
| December 2022 | Local: South Portland | South Portland becomes the fourth city in Maine to ban flavored tobacco products, following Portland, Brunswick and Bangor. The ban goes into effect immediately for stores that do not hold a tobacco license at the time of the ban. The enforcement date is set as April 1, 2023, for those already selling flavored tobacco products, to allow the existing inventory to be sold |
| August 2022 | Local: Bangor | The City Council bans flavored tobacco sales for the second time. Bangor was forced to repeal a previous ordinance (from October 2021) due to a procedural error. The new ordinance goes into effect January 1, 2023. Bangor joins the towns of Portland and Brunswick which have similar bans in effect |
| April 2022 | Local: Brunswick | The Town Council approves an ordinance prohibiting the sale and distribution of flavored tobacco and nicotine products, including menthol cigarettes. The new rule goes into effect June 1, 2022 |
| February 2022 | Local: Portland | The City Council approves a ban on flavored tobacco products from June 1, 2022. Health & Human Services and Public Safety Committee sent the proposal to the full council for consideration in November 2021 |
Maryland
| Date | Level | Change |
| March 2026 | State | A bill is proposed to require an additional license to manufacture, distribute or sell electronic smoking devices in Maryland |
| January 2026 | Local: Baltimore | A bill to authorize the City of Baltimore – to implement its own laws regulating the sale of tobacco and nicotine products – will be heard in the state Senate Finance Committee in February 2026 |
| June 2024 | State | The excise tax increases from $3.75 to $5.0 per pack for cigarettes. Taxes on other tobacco products (excluding pipe tobacco and cigars) increases to 60% of the wholesale price; taxes on electronic smoking devices, including vaping liquid in a container of more than 5 milliliters, increases to 20% of the wholesale price |
| March 2024 | State | The State Senate approves a bill restricting electronic smoking device products to licensed vape shops. The proposed legislation also prohibits the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies and increases the fee for a county license to sell cigarettes |
| February 2024 | Local: Baltimore | The City Council passes a bill that would prohibit all tobacco and nicotine use at stadiums across the city. Those caught violating the new rule could be fined up to $500 per instance. The move would make Baltimore the 17th Major League Baseball city to ban tobacco products |
| February 2023 | State | Senate Finance Committee considers a bill prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products and electronic smoking devices, including menthol, mint and wintergreen |
| February 2021 | State | State lawmakers review a legislation that would allow municipalities to adopt stronger restrictions on the sale and distribution of tobacco products |
| January 2021 | State | State lawmakers introduce a legislation to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products in Maryland |
| October 2020 | Local: Baltimore | City Council introduces a legislation to set a 30% excise tax on the sale of electronic smoking devices, including e-cigarettes, e-hookahs and vape pens |
| March 2020 | State | The General Assembly approves to increase the state’s cigarette excise tax to $1.75 per pack |
Massachusetts
| Date | Level | Change |
| April 2026 | Local: Northampton | The Northampton Board of Health approved a “nicotine-free generation” policy prohibiting nicotine product sales within the municipality to individuals born on or after July 1, 2005 |
| March 2026 | Local: Barnstable | Barnstable rejects a proposed “nicotine-free generation” (NFG) regulation that would ban people born after a certain date from ever buying tobacco or nicotine products. NFG proposals have so far failed in Worcester, Ashland, Peabody, Bellingham, Milton, Franklin, Medfield, Lynnfield and Westfield |
| October 2025 | State | A Bill is introduced to prohibit cities and towns from introducing communitywide bans on the sale of any legal consumer product including tobacco, and regulations independent of the state’s rules. It also seeks to establish a uniform minimum age of 21 for purchasing tobacco, overriding any local laws with different age restrictions |
| August 2025 | Local: Southborough | The Board of Health voted to to restrict the sale of nicotine pouches to adult-only retail tobacco stores from September 1, 2025. There are no such stores at the moment in Southborough |
| July 2025 | State | Multiple bills are tabled at the State Joint Committee on Public Health – including a bill that would exempt from the flavor ban any tobacco product that receives premarket tobacco authorization or a modified risk order from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; a bill that would ban internet sales of tobacco and nicotine products; and a bill that would repeal the statewide flavored tobacco products ban |
| January 2025 | Local: Newton | Newton City Council votes in favor of a lifetime tobacco ban for those born on or after March 1, 2004. The ordinance is modeled after the Brookline, Massachusetts bylaw that the State Supreme Judicial Court upheld. Roughly a dozen communities in the state have similar bans in place |
| November 2024 | Local: Northampton | The Northampton Board of Health approves the ban on the sale of nicotine pouches at convenience stores. Retailers should deplete any existing stock until January 1, 2025 |
| August 2024 | State | A proposal to increase the state cigarette tax from $3.51 to $4.51 per pack and the tax on cigars and smoking tobacco from 40% to 80% of the wholesale price failed to pass the state legislature |
| September 2023 | State | The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Revenue reviews a proposed legislation to raise the levy to $4.51 for a pack of cigarettes and to 80% of the wholesale price for cigars and smoking tobacco |
| July 2023 | State | State Joint Committee on Public Health reviews several tobacco-related bills: (1) to exempt any tobacco product that receives a marketing order from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from the statewide flavor ban; (2) to repeal the state menthol ban; (3) to require retailers that sell tobacco products to offer for sale at least one nicotine replacement therapy, drug, device or combination product that has been approved by the FDA for tobacco-cessation use; (4) to prohibit manufacturers or retailers to sell, distribute or cause to be distributed a tobacco product to a consumer, except in an adult-only retail tobacco store or in a smoking bar |
| January 2023 | Local: Pittsfield | The city’s tobacco ordinance is updated to include a more detailed definition for blunt wraps, a raised minimum price requirement for packaged cigars ($2.90 for one and $5.80 for two or more) and violations that incorporate state law. The changes go into effect on April 1, 2023 |
| November 2022 | Local: Dalton | The Board of Health bans new tobacco permits and sales of flavored rolling papers within 500 feet of schools. In addition, minimum cigar prices are raised to $2.90 for singles and $5.80 for a package of two or more and one-day suspension penalty is introduced for tobacco sale to a minor on first offence. |
| December 2021 | Local: Brookline | The Department of Health and Human Services begins the outreach regarding town’s new regulation, which prohibits tobacco purchases to anyone born after January 1, 2000. The health department prioritizes education over enforcement for the new rule which went into effect in September 2020. None of the 18 licensed tobacco sellers in Brookline have been cited for violations since the tobacco-free generation ordinance took effect |
| September 2021 | Local: Brookline | Store owners files a suit against Brookline over the ban on sale of the tobacco and vapor products to consumers born after January 1, 2000 |
| July 2021 | Local: Brookline | Brookline’s ordinance banning the sale of tobacco and vapor products to anyone born after January 1, 2000 is approved by the Massachusetts Attorney General |
| January 2020 | Local: Northampton | The Board of Health rejects a proposal to prohibit convenience stores from selling tobacco products, restrict the sale of vapor products to adult-only stores and lower the current cap on tobacco permits |
Michigan
| Date | Level | Change |
| April 2026 | State | The Michigan State Senate passed a package of bills that would reshape nicotine and tobacco regulations. One bill would impose fines and license suspensions on retailers that sell products to minors, with repeated violations ultimately resulting in license revocation. A second bill would fine minors $50 for purchasing or attempting to purchase tobacco or nicotine products. A third bill would codify the federal minimum age requirement of 21 for purchasing nicotine and tobacco products |
| October 2025 | Local: Detroit | The City Council approved an ordinance that prohibits the use of smokeless tobacco products, including nicotine pouches, in professional sports venues (stadiums) |
| September 2025 | State | A new bill seeks to update the current tax code and licensing requirements of tobacco and nicotine products in Michigan, imposing 32% tax on the wholesale price of new nicotine products listed under the expansion of covered products section |
| March 2025 | State | Governor proposes adding a new tax on vapes and other non-tobacco nicotine devices. Under the proposal, the devices would have a new tax rate of about 32% of the wholesale price from January 2026 |
| December 2024 | State | Michigan House Families, Children and Seniors Committee advances a bundle of bills aiming to require tobacco and vape retailers to be licensed and place stiffer penalties on those retailers violating the Tobacco 21 law. The proposed bills would additionally repeal the penalties against minors for tobacco use, purchase or possession. The bills passed the State Senate and will next be discussed at the full Michigan House |
| October 2024 | State | Bills are introduced in the Michigan Senate to require tobacco and vapor product retailers to be licensed (with $500 annual fee) and place stiffer penalties on those retailers violating the Tobacco 21 law. The proposed bills would also repeal the penalties against minors for tobacco use, purchase or possession |
| May 2024 | State | Pending Senate Bills may allow Michigan counties to tighten tobacco legislation (i.e. banning all sales of flavored tobacco products, require tobacco retailers to be licensed, tax e-cigarettes and vapes containing nicotine and repeal ineffective penalties that punish youth for possessing tobacco products |
| December 2023 | State | A package of bills in the Michigan Senate would end the sale of all flavored tobacco in the state, including e-cigarette, vapor products and menthol cigarettes |
| May 2023 | Local: Detroit | The City Council passes a resolution that requests the Michigan Legislature to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in the state or give cities the ability to prohibit them. In addition to flavored vapor products, Detroit would also like to ban menthol cigarettes |
| October 2022 | Local: Ann Arbor | Effective November 17, 2022, the University of Michigan will ban the use of all tobacco products on its three campuses. The existing smoking policy on campus will be revised to become Tobacco-Free University Premises policy |
| July 2022 | State | Governor signs a bill package raising the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21. The Tobacco 21 law also prohibits those under 21 from entering a tobacco store |
| June 2020 | State | The Senate approves a legislation to control the sale of electronic cigarettes across the state and increase the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21. Moreover, the new rules would regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products, impose an excise tax at 18 % of the wholesale price, establish a state license for all businesses and sales staff selling vapor products, establish advertising restrictions for the sale of vapor products and require electronic age verification for the sale of vapor products. The House of Representatives will review the bill next |
Minnesota
| Date | Level | Change |
| April 2026 | Local: Plymouth | The Plymouth City Council is moving forward with a new set of tobacco restrictions, including a ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes and vaping products, as well as flavored chewing tobacco. The policy would also prohibit tobacco coupons and price promotions. In addition, the proposal would cap the total number of tobacco licenses and introduce minimum distance requirements between tobacco retailers and schools or parks |
| July 2025 | Local: Minneapolis | The City Council approves an ordinance to set the minimum retail price of vapes as $25, effective immediately. In 2024, the City Council set the minimum retail price of a pack of cigarettes as $15 |
| August 2024 | State | State Attorney General sends a letter to more than 5,000 tobacco distributors and retailers, asking them to stop distributing, marketing and selling unauthorized and illegal flavored tobacco products, including flavored e-cigarettes and flavored oral nicotine pouches that have not been authorized for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in Minnesota |
| May 2024 | State | Governor signs a bill into law to expand the definition of moist snuff to include a “similar product containing nicotine” for tax purposes. The change goes into effect July 1, 2024 |
| April 2024 | Local: Minneapolis | Minneapolis City Council approves a $15-per-pack floor, before taxes (i.e. the highest government-mandated minimum price for cigarettes in the U.S.). The City also sets minimum prices for cigars, pipe tobacco and chewing tobacco, while banning all discounts or coupons on tobacco products |
| March 2024 | State | The House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee reviews a bill that would prohibit the sale of flavored products, including menthol |
| December 2023 | Local: St. Paul | The City Council passes an ordinance that would eliminate tobacco vending machines, while also reducing the number of available tobacco shop licenses from 150 to 100 |
| September 2023 | Local: St. Paul | The City Council approves a measure to prohibit smoking in several public areas, including near buildings and in public parks. The ordinance sets smoke-free zones within 25 feet of the entrances, exits, windows and ventilation intakes of businesses and applies to tobacco products, marijuana and vapor products. It also includes an exemption for existing designated areas in parks |
| April 2023 | Local: Olmsted County | Olmsted County commissioners reverse the plan for a potential ban on flavored tobacco as the outcome of such a ban could have negative racial and class implications |
| November 2021 | Local: St. Paul | The City Council approves an ordinance to set a $10 minimum price for a pack of cigarettes and can of smokeless tobacco; ban coupons or promotions on all commercial tobacco products; define two classes of tobacco licenses, one for businesses that sell tobacco, like convenience stores, and one for primarily tobacco sales-focused businesses; set a distance requirement of a half-mile between tobacco retailers; ban the sale of menthol and flavored tobacco products in liquor stores; decrease the number of tobacco licenses from 190 to 150. The ordinance goes into effect on December 3, 2021 |
| June 2021 | Local: Columbia Heights | The City Council approves an ordinance to prohibit in-store sampling of tobacco products. The law goes into effect in January 2021 |
| June 2021 | Local: Renville County | The Board of Commissioners passes a measure setting new penalties for violating the Tobacco 21 law. Under the new ordinance, license holders would be fined $300 for a first offense; $600 for a second offense within 36 months; and $1,000 for a third offense within 36 months. The new penalties bring the county ordinance in line with the state |
| April 2021 | Local: Bloomington | The City Council approves a measure to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol, from January 1, 2022. The measure also ends new tobacco retail licenses in the city |
| March 2021 | State | The Committee of the Preventive Health Policy Division votes in favor of advancing a bill that would increase taxes on tobacco products. The bill proposes to raise the cigarette excise tax by $1.50 per pack, end the tax break for premium cigars, and tax electronic cigarette and vapor devices as tobacco products |
| February 2021 | Local: Roseville | The City Council adopts an ordinance restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products to the four tobacco-only retailers in the city |
| February 2021 | State | A bill is introduced to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in Minnesota |
| December 2020 | Local: Brown County | County Commissioners votes in favor of a Tobacco 21 measure, raising the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 |
| September 2020 | Local: Fridley | The City Council approves legislation restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products to adult-only tobacco stores. The Council also updates the tobacco ordinance to meet state requirements that raise the tobacco sales age to 21 |
| August 2020 | State | The statewide Tobacco 21 rule goes into effect on August 1, 2020, in line with the new federal regulation |
| June 2020 | Local: Edina | The City Council votes to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol |
| May 2020 | State | Governor signs a legislation increasing the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21. The move comes three years after Edina became the first municipality in Minnesota to enact a Tobacco 21 rule |
| March 2020 | Local: Pequot Lakes | The City Council approves a measure raising the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 |
| February 2020 | State | State legislature considers to ban the sale of all flavored vapor products and ban the sale of all tobacco products to anyone under 21 years old |
| February 2020 | Local: Carlton County | The Board of Commissioners revises a previously approved tobacco ordinance to drop the ban on flavored tobacco products. As part of the same ordinance, the Tobacco 21 measure goes into effect on May 1, 2020 |
| February 2020 | Local: Cloquet | The City Council raises the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21. The ordinance goes into effect immidiately |
| February 2020 | Local: St. Louis County | The Board of Commissioners passes a measure raising the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21. The change brings the county into compliance with the new federal policy |
Mississippi
| Date | Level | Change |
| February 2026 | State | A House of Representatives bill, which seeks to increase the min. wholesale markup from 2% to 5% and retail markup from 6% to 12% for cigarettes, failed in the in Committee |
| June 2024 | State | Legislation creates a new definition of heated tobacco products and sets a levy of 25 cents per pack, effective July 1, 2024 |
| January 2023 | State | A new bill seeks to increase the tax on cigarettes by 50 cents from 68 cents to $1.18 per pack. Another bill seeks to increase the tax on other tobacco products from 15% to 22.5% of the manufacturer’s list price |
| January 2022 | State | A bill is introduced to increase the state levy on tobacco products, except cigarettes, from 15% of the wholesale price to 22.5% |
| July 2020 | State | Both chambers of the Mississippi state legislature approve to raise the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 |
Missouri
| Date | Level | Change |
| April 2025 | State | Missouri lawmakers advances a legislation that would prevent cities from adopting stricter regulations on the sale of tobacco, nicotine and e-cigarette products than those enforced by the state. The Bill [that specifies that the state preempts and supersedes all local laws, ordinances, orders, rules or regulations enacted by a county, municipality or other political subdivision regulating the sale of tobacco products, alternative nicotine products or vapor products] is heard in a state senate committee |
| January 2025 | Local: St. Louis | The St. Louis City Council allows existing licensed retailers to continue selling tobacco near schools (within 1,000 feet) in St. Louis County by overriding a veto from a county executive. New businesses that open near schools won’t be able to obtain license to sell tobacco |
| October 2024 | Local: Kansas | City Council dropped the measure to ban flavored tobacco for the second time in four years. Instead, Kansas City is considering to require a license to sell vapor products and rannual compliance checks |
| December 2020 | State | The State Legislature will review a proposal that would let municipalities increase taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products |
Montana
| Date | Level | Change |
| June 2025 | State | Montana adjusts the state’s 2005 Clean Indoor Air Act to prohibit vaping in indoor public places and workplaces |
| March 2025 | State | A bill was introduced to expand the taxation definition of “tobacco products” to include products containing nicotine or derived from tobacco and apply the current tobacco products tax rate at 50% of the wholesale price to vapor products and nicotine pouches effective July 1, 2025 |
| November 2020 | Local: Missoula | The City Council adopts a measure prohibiting the sale of flavored vapor products. The new law goes into effect on January 25, 2021 and applies to tobacco sales within the city limits as well as within a five-mile radius. The ordinance also bans the use of self-service displays |
| June 2020 | State | Department of Public Health and Human Services files a proposed rule notice to prohibit the sales, offering for sale, marketing, advertising or distribution of flavored electronic smoking products |
Nebraska
| Date | Level | Change |
| March 2026 | State | Nebraska lawmakers rejects a proposal to increase tobacco taxes (from 64 cents per pack to $1.64) and vapor product taxes. Nebraska has one of the lowest cigarette taxes in the U.S. |
| August 2024 | State | Effective January 1, 2026, the state will implement a tax on alternative nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches, at 20% of the retail price |
| August 2024 | State | A package of legislation signed by the Governor does not contain any tax increases on cigarettes, vapor products and alternative nicotine product discussed at the legislature |
| June 2023 | State | Governor signs an amended bill setting a tax on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) containing three milliliters or less of consumable material at 5 cents per milliliter of consumable material and for ENDS containing more than three milliliters of consumable material at 10 percent of the purchase price. The levy goes into effect on January 1, 2024 |
| February 2023 | State | The Nebraska Legislature’s Revenue Committee reviews a bill to impose an excise tax on vapor products from July 1, 2023 at a rate of 5 cents per milliliter of consumable material – defined as any liquid solution or other material that is consumed with an electronic nicotine delivery system |
| August 2020 | State | The Tobacco 21 legislation is approved in Nebraska |
| January 2020 | State | A Senate bill is introduced to raise Nebraska’s legal minimum age to buy tobacco products from 19 to 21 |
Nevada
| Date | Level | Change |
| May 2023 | State | Senate approves a bill that increases penalties on retailers who sell to underage consumers |
| April 2023 | State | A bill seeks to make tobacco sales illegal in Nevada beginning January 1, 2030. Under the proposal, the ban would occur in steps that include prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products and introducing a lifetime tobacco ban for people born on January 1, 2003 or later. It would also slowly ban licenses for cigarette vending machines until the total ban in 2030 |
| January 2023 | State | Effective January 1, 2023, tobacco retailers are required to use scanning technology or an automated software-based system to verify age on anyone under the age of 40 before selling tobacco products |
| November 2022 | State | State lawmakers pre-files a bill to increase the penalties on retailers who sell to underage consumers: a 30-day suspension on the second violation (instead of fourth) and a 180-day suspension on the third violation (instead of fifth) |
| May 2021 | State | State lawmakers approves legislation to increase Nevada’s legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 |
| February 2021 | State | The Nevada Assembly considers a bill to raise the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21. If approved, the bill will bring the state’s tobacco buying age in line with the federal rule |
New Hampshire
| Date | Level | Change |
| March 2025 | State | A state bill that would have increased the cigarette tax from $1.78 to $2.78 per 20-cigarette pack and the vapor tax from 35 cents per milliliter to 65% of the wholesale sales price, effective July 1, 2026, was indefinitely postponed |
| August 2024 | State | Governor signs a bill establishing a committee to study the marketing of e-cigarettes and e-liquid in the state, including the legality of available products and wholesale and retail compliance. The legislation states the committee shall focus on the sales, marketing, enforcement and tax collection mechanisms of e-cigarettes and e-liquid pursuant to retail tobacco licensing. The committee will report its findings and any legislation recommendations by November 1, 2024 |
| July 2024 | State | Governor signs a bill that defines alternative nicotine products and amends current statutes. The bill moves the fines for tobacco-related violations from statute to administrative rules. It requires tobacco licensees to abide by all federal laws, regulations and rules governing the sale, packaging, distribution and advertising of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, liquid nicotine and alternative nicotine products. The law goes into effect January 1, 2025 |
| December 2024 | State | A 2024 bill is introduced to establis a commission to study the enforcement and collection of taxes on electronic cigarettes |
| March 2023 | State | A bill to remove the exemption for premium cigars from the tobacco tax fails at the House of Representatives |
| February 2023 | State | The House of Representatives rejects a bill that would have changed the tax methodology for cigarettes, little cigars, all other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes failed. The proposed legislation would have annually set the tax rate for tobacco and nicotine products to be a maximum of the lowest rate charged for equivalent products in Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont, with a minimum of 8% below the lowest of such rates |
| August 2020 | State | Governor signs Tobacco 21 legislation, bringing the statewide legal minimum age to buy tobacco from 19 to 21 |
New Jersey
| Date | Level | Change |
| February 2026 | State | A bill is introduced in the New Jersey Senate to cap the tax on cigars at 50 cents per piece |
| September 2025 | Local: Sea Bright | The Borough Council adopted an ordinance to prohibit the operation of tobacco establishments, vape shops and the sale of THC products within the borough’s boundaries |
| August 2025 | State | Effective August 1, 2025, the state tax increased from $2.7 to $3.0 for a pack of cigarettes and from 10 cents to 30 cents per milliliter for vape liquid |
| August 2025 | Local: North Bergen | North Bergen becomes the first locality in New Jersey to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products starting January 1, 2026. Moreover, new tobacco retail license law, effective August 1, 2025, requires all tobacco retailers to obtain an annual license from the township, in addition to their existing state license. The ordinance also mandates signage requirements, prohibits sampling, requires face-to-face sales, and ensures that all tobacco and vaping products are sold in child-resistant packaging |
| September 2024 | State | The State Assembly passes two vapor-related bills: (1) prohibiting the delivery sale of vapor products to those under the age of 21, requiring a signature upon delivery to a residence of an adult that is at least 21 years old; (2) directing the State Departments of Education and Health to develop and distribute guidelines on how to implement anti-vaping campaigns to school districts and colleges. Both Bills will next be discussed at New Jersey Senate |
| September 2022 | Local: Atlantic City | A bill that would end smoking in Atlantic City’s nine casinos remains stalled with no vote scheduled. Other states, including Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, have also made moves to implement casino smoking bans, so far to no avail |
| June 2022 | State | The State Assembly Health Committee approves a bill prohibiting the sale of all menthol cigarettes and flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems in New Jersey. Under the proposed legislation, violators would face a $250-$1,000 fine for the first three offenses, followed by a three-year suspension of retail license |
| January 2022 | State | Governor signs into a law legislation requiring any retail store that carries tobacco products (except cigar stores) to also carry nicotine replacement therapy products |
| February 2021 | State | The Senate votes in favor of a proposal to ban the sale of tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, at pharmacies across the state |
| January 2020 | Local: Westfield | The Board of Health approves new regulations that would ban the sale of vapor products at convenience stores, gas stations and liquor stores |
New Mexico
| Date | Level | Change |
| February 2025 | State | A bill that would increase the state tax on vapor products and other tobacco products to 40% of the product value and implement a new tax on modern oral products at 40% of the product value is pending consideration in the New Mexico Senate Finance Committee. A cigarette tax increase is removed from the Bill |
| January 2023 | State | House Health and Human Services Committee reviews a bill to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products |
| January 2022 | State | A bill that would increase the tax on cigarettes by $2 per pack, on the other tobacco products and e-liquids to 77% of the product value and on closed system cartridges to $3.32 per unit is pending consideration in the New Mexico House of Representatives |
| February 2021 | State | A bill is proposed to increase the excise tax for cigarettes by $2 a pack, for other tobacco products from 25% to 83%, for electronic cigarettes from 12.5% to 83% and for closed-system cartridges from 50 cents to $3.32 per unit |
| February 2020 | State | Lawmakers approve the legislation to raise the state’s legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 and require a license to sell tobacco products. Regulation responsibilities are assigned to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Regulation and Licensing Department and enforcement will be done by the Department of Public Safety |
New York
| Date | Level | Change |
| January 2026 | State | Governor introduced a state budget that would put new nicotine products in the tobacco products definition, which would impose 75% tax on the wholesale price of these products. The proposal also includes a two-tier tax system on vapor products that introduces a distributor level tax per unit of vapor products first imported or manufactured in the state and retains the supplemental tax on vapor products imposed on retail sales. Moreover, the proposal aims to create a vapor products registry, whereby only vapor products listed on the registry can be legally sold in the state |
| February 2025 | State | 20 New York Assembly members introduce a bill to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and accessories in the state. If passed, violators would face a fine of no more than $500. It would not make possession or usage of flavored tobacco products illegal and contains a provision that no law enforcement officer may stop, question, search or arrest a person in relation to the possession of such products |
| September 2024 | State | A bill is introduced to prohibit the sale of entertainment vapor products – defined as any vapor product with Bluetooth, wireless internet or other internet connectivity, or the ability to play virtual games, play music, or display photos or other animations on the device |
| July 2024 | Local: New York City | New York City prohibits the sale of tobacco vape products designed to resemble school supplies, such as highlighters, staplers and tape dispensers (which are hard-to-spot) |
| September 2023 | Local: Syracuse | A new law that goes into effect on October 1, 2023 to restrict the placement of new tobacco retail locations near schools and parks. The ordinance also caps the number of available tobacco retail licenses and sets a licensing approval policy that will reduce tobacco retail locations in the city (no impact on the current locations that follow city permit requirement) |
| August 2023 | State | New York legislators considers a bill that would require electronic cigarette manufacturers to submit plans for the collection, transportation and recycling of e-cigarettes to the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation. The bill also requires manufacturers and retailers to accept the return of electronic cigarettes for recycling |
| June 2023 | State | The State Senate passes a bill that would impose restrictions on certain advertisements and promotions of electronic cigarettes. The proposed legislation addresses the suppression of information relating to the health consequences of e-cigarettes |
| March 2023 | State | The New York State Legislature rejects a proposal to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products |
| January 2023 | State | Lawmakers consider to increase the cigarette tax from $4.35 to $6.24 per pack, ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products and require retailers to accept the return of used electronic cigarettes for recycling |
| November 2022 | State: Westchester County | The Board of Legislators passes the most comprehensive bill in the state of New York to ban the retail sale and distribution of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol, mint and wintergreen |
| August 2022 | State | Governor signs a legislation prohibiting smoking in all state-owned beaches, boardwalks, marinas, playgrounds, recreation centers, and group camps. The bill exempts the Adirondacks and Catskills from the ban, as well as parking lots, sidewalks adjoining parks and areas not used for park purposes |
| October 2020 | Local: Bernalillo County | County commissioners increase the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21. The ordinance also states stores must also post signs stating the new age requirement for tobacco purchases |
| September 2020 | Local: Suffolk County | County Legislator demands the county to raise the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 25 years old. Localities in New York have the option to raise the legal minimum age higher than the statewide age of 21 |
| August 2020 | Local: Bethlehem | Town board votes in favor of legislation that will require businesses to obtain a license to sell tobacco. The new rule, which also prevents retailers from selling vapor products within 1,000 feet of schools, goes into effect on January 1, 2021 |
| July 2020 | State | Ban on discounts on tobacco products goes into effect on July 1, 2020. The ban includes coupons and multi-pack price promotions. A ban on shipping and/or delivering electronic cigarettes and vapor products to private homes also takes effect on July 1, 2020 |
| May 2020 | State | Prohibition of the sale of flavored nicotine vapor products and prohibition of the sale of all tobacco and nicotine vapor products in pharmacies go into effect. The law does not include flavorless and tobacco-flavored nicotine vapor products, as well as nicotine vapor products that are approved by the FDA |
North Carolina
| Date | Level | Change |
| July 2026 | State | State lawmakers have passed new regulations imposing stricter requirements on specialty vape shops and tougher penalties for selling unauthorized vaping products. Convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores are exempt |
| March 2025 | State | State lawmakers consider a bill to raise the legal sales age for tobacco in North Carolina to 21. Currently, North Carolina is one of only seven states that have not modified the legal age. The legislation would also require all tobacco retailers to obtain a permit from the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission and pay a renewal fee each year, which would fund enforcement of the law |
| November 2024 | Local: Carteret | The Health and Human Services Board adopts a resolution to raise the minimum age to purchase vapor and tobacco products from 18 to 21. The resolution also establishes a retailer permitting system |
| November 2024 | Local: Henderson | The County Board of Commissioners votes to require vape and tobacco shops to be located 5,000 feet – or nearly a mile – from any school |
| October 2024 | Local: Fayetteville | The City Council passes a development ordinance change that prohibits new smoke shops from opening within 1,000 feet of each other and a wide variety of other establishments (including schools, daycare facilities, religious institutions, group homes, public parks, group quarters or residential rehabilitation support facilities) or within the same property |
| September 2023 | State | State legislators approves a measure to change the tax rate on snuff from 12.8% of the cost price to 40 cents per ounce and tax alternative nicotine products at 10 cents per container, up to 20 units per container and one-half cent per unit after 20 units |
| December 2020 | Local: New Hanover County | The County Board of Commissioners votes in favor of ban on the use of combustible tobacco and electronic cigarettes in county, town and city buildings, vehicles and grounds, as well as in public places in the county like restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. The ordinance will go into effect February 1, 2021 |
| May 2020 | State | Lawmakers consider a reduced state excise tax for reduced-risk tobacco products. The change would apply only to those products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration as modified risk |
North Dakota
| Date | Level | Change |
| March 2025 | State | North Dakota House of Representatives rejects a bill that proposes to raise the taxes on cigarettes by 25 cents a pack, as well as higher taxes on vapes and chewing tobacco. The bill had previously passed in the North Dakota Senate |
| October 2021 | Local: Grand Forks | The City Council rejects a proposal to increase the legal age to sell tobacco products without supervision from 18 to 21 |
| January 2021 | State | The Senate approves a bill to increase the legal minimum tobacco buying age in the state to 21, in line with federal guidelines. The Bill will next be discussed at the House of Representatives |
Ohio
| Date | Level | Change |
| July 2025 | State | The 10th District Court of Appeals ruled that the Ohio General Assembly’s attempt to bar Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and other cities from enacting their own rules about tobacco products sold within their limits is unconstitutional, violating the Home Rule Amendment of the Ohio Constitution. Among other things, the Home Rule Amendment gives local governments the autonomy to enact ordinances related to the safety and welfare of their residents provided they don’t contradict state laws |
| May 2025 | Local: Toledo | Toledo officials are set to increase tobacco shop regulations to decrease the density of shops popping up and their proximity to youth. Key recommendations from the Toledo City Plan Commission include increasing the required distance from youth-related facilities from 500 feet to 1,000 feet and implementing a spacing requirement of 2,000 feet between tobacco shops to reduce their density in the city. The recommendations will be discussed at the Toledo City Council |
| April 2025 | Local: Cleveland | The Cleveland City Council approves several pieces of legislation regarding tobacco sales and smoke shops. Under the new rules, all tobacco retailers must obtain a retail license for each location where tobacco products are sold in the city. Additionally, no tobacco shop may be established within 10,560 feet (two miles) of another existing smoke shop; tobacco stores may not be located in the same building or on the same lot and tobacco shops are prohibited within 500 feet of any church, public library, school, public park or playground |
| February 2025 | Local: Aurora | City officials extend its years-long moratorium on smoke, tobacco and CBD shops for another year. The moratorium extension prohibits the city from accepting and issuing permits for vape shops, e-cigarette shops, smoke shops, tobacco shops and shops that sell any product related to CBD, cannabidiol oils or edibles. The city first imposed a 12-month moratorium on such businesses on February 12, 2023, then extended it until November 20, 2024 |
| October 2024 | Local: Toledo | The City Council proposes a moratorium on issuing permits for new tobacco shops. If passed, it would block the review and issuance of any zoning permits, building permits, certificates of occupancy or other licenses or permits until January 31, 2025 |
| June 2024 | Local: Athens | Athens City Planning and Development Committee reviews the recommendations for zoning of tobacco and cannabis retailers. Cannabis establishments will be limited within different zones in the city and operate at least 500 feet away from schools, public libraries, public playgrounds and parks. Existing tobacco retailers will have to go through separate state permitting and applications to sell cannabis |
| May 2024 | State | A Franklin County judge sides with Columbus and a coalition of other cities, ruling a state law [that would strip away the rights of cities to regulate the sale of tobacco products at the local level] unconstitutional. Local regulations in Columbus and in other cities (e.g. licensing of local tobacco retailers and the ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products) will remain in effect |
| April 2024 | State | More than a dozen cities (Columbus, Bexley, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dublin, Gahanna, Grandview Heights, Heath, Hilliard, Oxford, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Whitehall and Worthington) file a lawsuit claiming the state law that bans Ohio municipalities from regulating tobacco products violates the state constitution. The cities seek a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to stop the new law from going into effect |
| January 2024 | State | The legislature overrides the governor’s veto of a budget measure that bars the local governments in Ohio from regulating tobacco in their communities. The measure also prevents communities from voting on acts like restricting the sales of flavored vapes. The new law goes into effect in April 2024. The House of Representatives approves a bill that would raise the punitive fines for selling tobacco products to people under the age of 21. It would mandate a minimum fine of $250 for a first violation, a fine up to $500 for the second, a mandatory $500 fine for the third, a mandatory $1,000 fine for the fourth and a mandatory $1,500 fine for the fifth. The bill will next be discussed at the Ohio Senate |
| December 2023 | State | The House of Representatives votes to override Governor’s veto of a ban on communities banning flavored tobacco. The issue will next be discussed at the Ohio Senate. Seperately, Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee passes a bill that increases fines for tobacco retailers that are repeatedly caught selling tobacco and vapor products to minors |
| July 2023 | State | Governor vetoes a budget bill clause that establishes state preemption over local tobacco ordinances |
| December 2022 | Local: Bexley | The City Council delayes its vote on banning all flavored tobacco products |
| December 2022 | Local: Columbus | The City Council votes unanimously to end the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes and flavored vaping products |
| December 2022 | State | The State Senate passes a bill stopping cities from banning the sale of flavored tobacco products |
| July 2022 | Local: Hilliard | The City Council passes legislation that stiffens Ohio’s Tobacco 21 law, implementing penalties for those under 21 who use, buy, or possess tobacco or vaping supplies |
| July 2022 | Local: Kent | The City Council passes a $400 Tobacco Retail License, which backs up its Tobacco 21 law and funds compliance checks |
| June 2022 | Local: Salem | The City Health District Boards approves a measure to require retailers to obtain an annual $100 permit as part of the Tobacco 21 program |
| December 2021 | Local: Niles | The City Council holds a first reading of an ordinance that would prevent any future businesses that sell tobacco and vapor products to open within 1,000 feet of a school or public park |
Oklahoma
| Date | Level | Change |
| March 2025 | State | The Oklahoma Senate passes a bill that amends the cigarette tax laws to include heated products and provides a 50% tax reduction for heated products. The measure moves to the State House of Representatives for consideration |
| October 2020 | Local: Guthrie | The City Council votes to amend an ordinance to raise the minimum legal age to buy tobacco products to 21. The move brings the local measure in line with the state and federal tobacco buying age |
| May 2020 | State | Governor signs Tobacco 21 legislation into law, banning the sale of all tobacco products to anyone under 21 |
| February 2020 | State | The Senate Health and Human Services Committee votes in favor of a legislation to raise the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products 18 to 21 across the state. The legislation will be discussed at the Senate next |
| January 2020 | State | A State bill is introduced legislation to increase the legal minimum age to buy tobacco products 18 to 21 across the state |
Oregon
| Date | Level | Change |
| June 2026 | Local: Washington County | The Oregon Supreme Court upheld Washington County’s ban on flavored tobacco products. Previously, in 2024, the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed a 2022 decision from Washington County Circuit who decided that the county had the power to regulate tobacco sales, but only the state had the authority to ban certain products entirely |
| February 2026 | State | The Oregon Senate passes a bill that redefines tobacco products to include nicotine pouch products, banning its sale to those under 21. The bill will be tabled at the House of Representatives next |
| August 2025 | State | Effective January 1, 2026, Oregon will implement a 65-cents-per-can excise tax on nicotine pouch cans with 20 pouches or less and 3.25-cents-per-pouch excise tax on nicotine pouch cans with more than 20 pouches |
| June 2025 | State | Lawmakers consider to impose 65 cents tax on nicotine pouches with 20 or fewer pouches and 3.25 cents per pouch tax for packs with more than 20 pouches |
| February 2025 | State | Lawmakers take a stand against flavored tobacco products by passing a resolution that calls for an end to their sale. The resolution urges the Oregon State Legislature to pass a state Senate Bill that seeks to eliminate the sale of flavored tobacco and synthetic nicotine products statewide |
| October 2024 | State | The Oregon Court of Appeals rules that lawmakers violated the state constitution’s free speech protections when they previously prohibited e-cigarette companies from marketing their products with colorful packaging, banning the use of mascots, cartoons, celebrity endorsements and descriptive phrases such as “lit,” “fire” and “spiked” |
| September 2023 | Local: Multnomah County | County Circuit Court rules that the ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products will go into effect in January 2024 |
| January 2023 | State | A bill seeks to enact a statewide ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products |
| December 2022 | Local: Multnomah County | Sales of flavored tobacco and vaping products will be banned in Multnomah County from January 1, 2023 |
| July 2022 | Local: Washington County | Ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products put on hold for a second time after a circuit court judge issues a temporary injunction |
| November 2021 | Local: Washington County | Board of Commissioners approves a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products across the county. The county becomes the first in Oregon. The measure goes into effect in December 2021 |
| May 2021 | State | Senate votes in favor of House Bill 2261 to ban the online sale of nicotine electronic cigarettes and vapor products. House of Representatives approved the bill in April 2021 |
| January 2021 | State | As of January 1, 2021, the state’s cigarette excise levy increases from $1.33 to $3.33 a pack. Cigars are taxed $1, and electronic cigarettes and vapor products are taxed at a rate of 65% of the wholesale purchase price. The definition of a cigarette is also changed to include little cigars |
Pennsylvania
| Date | Level | Change |
| April 2026 | State | A new Pennsylvania law has taken effect requiring all manufacturers of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes sold at retail in the state to obtain certification from the Pennsylvania Attorney General. The law also establishes a state directory of approved manufacturers and products, including brand names, product categories, product names, and flavors |
| June 2024 | State | House of Representatives pases House Bill HB1425 to establish an Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Directory – a list of all certified manufactures and vape products legal to sell in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
| August 2023 | State | Several state legislators introduce a bipartisan-supported bill to change the presumed cost of doing business from 7% to 9% in 2023, to 10% in 2024, to 11% 2025 and to 12% in 2026 and thereafter for the cigarette retailers |
Rhode Island
| Date | Level | Change |
| June 2025 | State | The Rhode Island House of Representatives votes to expand the definition of other tobacco products (OTP) to include nicotine pouches and impose the current OTP excise rate of 80% of the wholesale price, effective October 1, 2025 – while declining the Governor’s proposal to raise the tax on cigarettes |
| January 2025 | State | Effective January 1, 2025, Rhode Island imposes an excise tax on electronic nicotine-delivery system (ENDS) products: $0.50 per milliliter of the liquid contained within a prefilled & not refillable ENDS product or 10% of the wholesale cost for any other ENDS product |
| July 2021 | State | Rhode Island raises the minimum legal purchase age for tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, from 18 to 21, aligning its law with the Federal Tobacco 21 Law (December 2019) |
South Carolina
| Date | Level | Change |
| April 2025 | State | A South Carolina House of Representative committee votes in favor of a new bill that would tax heated tobacco products or any substitute for tobacco at 25 cents per pack, effective October 1, 2025 |
| April 2021 | State | The House of Representatives approves a bill that would ban municipalities from creating their own tobacco regulations and requiring local licenses to sell tobacco products. The Bill will next be discussed at Senate |
South Dakota
| Date | Level | Change |
| January 2026 | Local: Pierre | A Bill seeks to require retail licensing to sell nicotine products with penalties for violations. Another Bill would require wholesale and retail licensing for the distribution and sale of vapor products |
| February 2025 | State | Legislators pass a bill raising the tax on cigars and other tobacco products from 35% to 45% of the wholesale price. The bill also raises the tax on cigarettes from $1.53 to $3.03 per pack of 20. Moreover, the definition of tobacco products is expanded to include substances containing nicotine or synthetic nicotine |
| January 2020 | State | House of Representatives reviews a bill that would raise the state’s legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21. The move would bring the age into compliance with the new federal regulation |
Tennessee
| Date | Level | Change |
| July 2025 | State | Effective July 1, 2025, vapor products are subject to the tobacco tax at the rate of 10% of the wholesale price |
| February 2025 | State | A bill is filed to raise the “prospective” age limit on identification rules for tobacco or hemp product sales from 30 years old to 50 years. While current state law would still apply, allowing tobacco and hemp product purchases to be sold to adults at least 21 years old, establishments that sell these products would be required to ask for identification to prove a consumer is at least 21 unless “an ordinary person would conclude” the consumer to be at least 50 years old |
| January 2021 | State | The Tobacco 21 law goes into effect on January 1, 2021 |
Texas
| Date | Level | Change |
| June 2025 | State | Texas Governor signed Senate Bill 2024 (SB 2024) into law, banning “e-cigarette products” manufactured in China. In addition, the new law also prohibits the sales of e-cigarette products that feature characters, trademarks or symbols that are primarily used in marketing to minors, an image or name of a celebrity and an image that resembles a food product. E-cigarette products that are designed to appear as an alternative product (such as school or office supply, smart phone, smart watch, cosmetic, toy, etc.) and that contain or are mixed with cannabinoids, alcohol, kratom, kava or mushrooms will also be prohibited. Violation of the law is classified as a criminal offense. The law will come into effect on September 1, 2025 |
| May 2025 | Local: Austin | A new is signed into law prohibiting signs advertising cigarettes, e-cigarettes and tobacco products from being displayed within 1,000 feet of churches or schools in the state – except the signs between 1,000 feet and 500 feet from schools or churches that existed since September 1, 1997. The new rules goes into effect this September 2025 |
| April 2024 | Local: Sugar Land | The City Council passes a ban on any new tobacco/vape shop opening within city limits, effective immediately. Existing shops that operate within the law will be allowed to remain open |
| January 2024 | Local: Killeen | The City Council approves a motion of direction to change the zoning rules and limit vape and smoke shops to a specific distance from schools |
| April 2023 | State | The House of Representatives considers a bill that would ban cigarettes, e-cigarettes and smokable tobacco products on all college and university campuses in the state |
| March 2022 | Local: Houston | The City Council approves an ordinance banning the use of electronic cigarettes and vapor products in public spaces, workplaces, outdoor arenas, public transit stops and within 25 feet of a building entrance or exit |
Utah
| Date | Level | Change |
| January 2026 | State | Legislation is introduced to increase the moist snuff and nicotine pouch tax from 56% to 86%, effective July 1, 2026. Another Bill seeks to change the nicotine and electronic cigarette regulations by increasing licensing fees, increasing enforcement and penalties for sales of noncompliant products, and establishing a funding mechanism for prevention and enforcement programs |
| July 2021 | State | The Department of Health considers a new rule that would reduce the cap on nicotine levels in electronic cigarettes and vapor products from 5% to 3% |
| March 2020 | State | Governor signs two bills into law: one that levies a 56% tax on e-cigarettes at the wholesale level and one that moves the sale of most flavored vapor products to age-restricted stores only |
| January 2020 | State | Legislators consider to introduce a state excise tax on electronic cigarettes, restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products to tobacco stores and increase the state’s legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 |
Vermont
| Date | Level | Change |
| April 2024 | State | Governor vetoes the state legislature’s ban on flavored tobacco (i.e. flavored vapes, nicotine pouches, menthol cigarettes and all other forms of flavored tobacco and nicotine products) |
| March 2023 | State | The State Senate approves a bill banning the retail sale of flavored tobacco cigarettes (including menthol), other tobacco products, vapor products and e-liquids |
| February 2023 | State | Senate Committee on Health and Welfare reviews a bill that would ban the retail sale of flavored cigarettes (including menthol), other tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and e-liquids |
| February 2021 | State | A bill is proposed to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products in Vermont, including e-cigarettes and e-liquids |
| January 2020 | State | The Senate considers a bill that would prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco and vapor products in the state, including menthol |
Virginia
| Date | Level | Change |
| March 2026 | State | A new bill seeks to stop illegal vapor sales to minors and specifies fines for offenses |
| August 2025 | Local: Roanoke | The City Council considers an ordinance that would require vape and tobacco shops to pay $20,000 annually to operate within city limits. The fee would target specifically the businesses primarily selling tobacco, vapes, THC and related products (i.e. gas stations and convenience stores would be exempt) |
| July 2025 | Local: Hanover | The County Planning Board recommends a zoning amendment that would tighten restrictions on where vape, smoke and hemp retailers can operate |
| June 2021 | Local: Spotsylvania | The Board of Supervisors votes in favor of a 30-cent tax on a pack of cigarettes from July 1, 2021. The measure also limits cigarette sales to only registered and licensed retail stores |
| May 2021 | Local: Radford | The City Council approves a 25-cent tax increase on cigarettes and tobacco products (from 15 cents to 40 cents) |
| April 2021 | Local: Franklin County | The Board of Supervisors rejects a call for a 15-cent tax on tobacco products |
| July 2020 | State | State excise tax increases from 30 cents to 60 cents on a pack of cigarettes and 6.6 cents per milliliter tax is imposed on the sale of liquid nicotine products from July 1, 2020 |
Washington
| Date | Level | Change |
| February 2026 | State | Washington lawmakers consider a $2 increase to the cigarette tax from $3.025 per pack to $5.025 |
| May 2025 | State | Legislation that imposes 95% tax on the wholesale price of tobacco products to products that contain nicotine, such as pouches (whether derived from tobacco or synthetically), is signed into low. The tax will take effect on January 1, 20261 |
| April 2025 | State | A bill that extends the 95% tax on wholesale price to other products that contain nicotine, such as nicotine pouches (whether derived from tobacco or synthetically), passes the Washington House of Representatives and State Senate. Efforts to increase the cigarette tax by $2 per pack fails. The Bill is in final review with the Governor |
| February 2023 | State | Bills to increase monetary penalties for underage sales of tobacco and vapor products and allow the secretary of the Washington Department of Health to restrict or prohibit the sales of flavored tobacco products fail at the state’s legislature |
Washington D.C
| Date | Level | Change |
| August 2022 | City | Mayor signs into law the Flavored Tobacco Product Prohibition Amendment Act, banning the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes. It exempts bars and restaurants that offer hookah |
| June 2021 | City | District of Columbia Council approves a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes |
West Virginia
| Date | Level | Change |
| January 2026 | State | A proposed amendment to a West Virginia House of Representatives Bill would make underage tobacco use a misdemeanor charge in the state, with penalties ranging from a fine to community service |
| July 2025 | Local: Morgantown | The City Council adopts a zoning amendment creating new text around the “smoke shop/tobacco store” use and restricting such uses to B-5 districts (shopping center) by right and B-2 (service business) by conditional use. With the new rule, smoke shops and tobacco stores would require the review and approval of the Morgantown Board of Zoning Appeals. The city’s downtown is zoned B-4 (general business). Smoke shops/tobacco stores are also mandated to be at least 1,500 feet from one another and schools or daycare centers |
| March 2024 | State | Governor signs a bill that requires all online sales of tobacco products to comply with all age verification requirements and prohibits delivery sales to underage consumers. It also specifies that taxes will be collected and remitted for the online sale of any tobacco product and establishes criminal penalties for violations. The bill becomes effective in 90 days |
Wisconsin
| Date | Level | Change |
| December 2025 | State | A bill is reintroduced to align state tobacco law with federal regulations that require buyers to be at least 21. Since 2019, the federal law prohibited tobacco sales to anyone under 21, but Wisconsin state law still lists the legal purchasing age as 18. In 2020 and 2022, the Assembly passed bills to raise the age to 21, but the bills never made it past the state Senate |
| July 2025 | State | Proposed bills seeks to revise the definition of “cigarette” by creating two categories with different tax rates: (1) products intended for smoking by burning tobacco, taxed at the current rate of $2.52 per pack, and (2) products that heat tobacco without combustion (excluding vapor products), taxed at $1.26 per pack |
| March 2024 | State | Governor signs a bill into law requiring retailers who sell cigars or pipe tobacco remotely to obtain a remote retail seller permit from the state Department of Revenue. It also attaches the excise tax on cigars and pipe tobacco to any remote sale. The bill goes into effect on January 1, 2025 |
| February 2022 | State | The State Assembly approves the Tobacco 21 bill, raising the state’s legal minimum age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21. The bill will next be voted at the Wisconsin State Senate |
| February 2020 | State | The Wisconsin Assembly votes in favor of a Tobacco 21 measure, raising the state’s legal minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21. The legislation will next be discussed at the Senate |
Wyoming
| Date | Level | Change |
| February 2024 | State | State Senate passes a bill that would require vapor product manufacturers to certify with the state that the manufacturer has either received marketing authorization for their product from the FDA or the vapor product was marketed in the U.S. as of August 8, 2016, and the manufacturer has submitted a PMTA to the FDA before September 9, 2020, that is awaiting final ruling by the agency. This bill also requires the state to make the directory publicly available by October 1, 2024, and prohibits the sale of any vapor product not listed in the directory. The bill will be discussed at the State House of Representatives |
| March 2021 | State | A proposal to increase state levies on cigarettes and moist snuff products fails in the House of Representatives |
| August 2020 | Local: Buffalo City | Lawmakers approve an ordinance to raise the legal age to buy tobacco products to 21 |
| April 2020 | Local: Jackson | The Town Council mullsa measure that would prohibit the sale of all flavored vapor products |
| February 2020 | State | The House Revenue Committee votes in favor of a Tobacco 21 proposal. Already approved by the state Senate, the measure moves to the full House of Representatives for a vote |
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