Act Now to Stop the Big Tobacco Protection Act in Idaho

Update

A meeting has been scheduled to discuss the Vape E-Cigarette Regulatory System registry bill in Boise, Idaho. This meeting will take place on November 22, 2024 at 9:00 am at the State Capitol in Room EW 41 Boise, Idaho. 

How to testify: 

In person testimony: sign-in at the meeting

Written testimony: submit to LSO staff at : KSlominski@lso.idaho.gov

Idaho Senate Bill S.1366 is a carefully crafted scheme known by critics as the Big Tobacco Protection Act. S.1366 selectively enforces failed FDA regulations to create a Big Tobacco monopoly that is funded by residents of Idaho. It will destroy jobs in Idaho to benefit the tobacco industry and make taxpayers foot the bill to enforce failed federal regulatory policies.

Please take a minute to send an email to your lawmakers urging them to oppose S.1366. Click here to view the CASAA Call-to-Action regarding S.1366. You can also use the Legislator Lookup to find who represents you and let them know that you vape, you vote, and that this scheme will destroy jobs and lives.

S.1366 has been introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on State Affairs. Worst of all, this law will funnel smokers and vapers back into the waiting arms of the tobacco industry. There is zero science promoting this law, in fact a recent FDA-funded study found cigarette sales increase in areas with flavor bans.

At the moment there is no hearing scheduled, but we expect that to change and we’ll update this alert as more information becomes available.

IDAHO S.1366 VAPE BAN

Idaho Senate Bill S.1366 is a classic “PMTA Registry” law. Similar versions are hitting every statehouse in the nation thanks to the lobbying of the tobacco industry. These types of laws were openly discussed as a means of generating revenue in a Q1 2024 Report for Altria. 

IMPACT ON YOUR BUSINESS

• Disproportionate Burden: Small to medium-sized vape businesses will face overwhelming financial and operational burdens due to extensive documentation and fees required.
• Threat to Business Viability: Over 90% of vaping products sold in stores today would become illegal, potentially forcing many businesses to close.
• Boost to Illicit Markets: The stringent regulations could drive consumers towards unregulated markets, compromising public health and safety while undermining legitimate businesses.
• Inhibits Innovation: The bill disproportionately affects disposable vaping products and stifles innovation in the vaping industry.

CRITICISMS OF PMTA REGISTRY BILLS

1. Structured so that the tobacco industry’s vape products remain on market, despite also not having received PMTA authorization, while barring their less expensive competition.
2. Serves as a flavor ban, denying adult vapers the flavors they prefer. While vaping levels have plunged among minors, and an FDA funded study found that flavor bans increase cigarette sales, PMTA registry bills proliferate in order to protect the tobacco-industries market share.
3. Bars easy to use disposable vapes, which are ideal for initiates and not coincidentally compete head-to-head with prefilled pod kits made by Big Tobacco.
4. Harms small businesses, vape shops and convenience stores, by removing high-volume and profitable products while leaving lower margin tobacco industry vapes on shelves.
5. Contrary to spirit of consumer choice and entrepreneurship, barring products released after 2016. 

Consumer freedom, entrepreneurship, customer choice and your pocketbook will take a huge hit if the Idaho Vape Sales Ban is to pass. It is a law that is deceptively presented as protecting children, but it is simply a scheme to protect Big Tobacco.