AlaskaAlaska bill proposed age limits, shipping rules, and vaping taxes
If it took effect, the proposal would set age and shipping rules, tax certain vaping products, and allow cigar smoking in qualifying stores.
What it does
Sellers could not sell or give tobacco or nicotine products to people under 21, who generally could not possess them. Exceptions cover certain approved medical products and 19- or 20-year-olds selling products as part of a job.
Businesses and individuals shipping these products into Alaska would have to meet recipient and age-check rules. Personal buyers could receive only specified products, and many shipments would require verified age and paid taxes.
Retailers would collect a 25 percent tax on the price of covered vaping products and report sales each month. Exemptions apply, and out-of-state sellers collect the tax only above the transaction threshold.
People could smoke cigars in qualifying retail cigar stores unless the owner or operator bans it. The store must meet business and building rules, and smoking must be limited to cigars.
Argument forVaping taxes could help fund prevention, while limits on nicotine strength, child-resistant packaging, and ingredient labels could help reduce product risks.
Argument againstPeople under 21 could face fines for possessing tobacco or nicotine products, and shipping rules could make some personal orders harder to receive.
More detail
The proposed text would bar sellers from selling or giving tobacco or nicotine products to people under 21. The rules cover tobacco, electronic smoking products, and products containing nicotine in Alaska. Certain FDA-approved products for quitting tobacco or other medical purposes are excepted when supplied through the listed medical or family channels. A person aged 19 or 20 may possess these products while selling them as part of a job for an endorsed business. The age provisions would apply to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026, if the measure took effect.
The proposed text would limit shipments of tobacco, nicotine, and vaping products into Alaska. The rules cover tobacco products, synthetic nicotine products, nicotine substitutes, and electronic smoking products shipped to people in Alaska. Individuals could receive only specified shipments; personal cigar or pipe tobacco orders require age verification showing the buyer is at least 21. Carriers and other transporters would face recipient, age-verification, and labeling rules. Violations could bring criminal charges and civil penalties. The shipping provisions would apply to violations committed on or after July 1, 2026, if the measure took effect.
The proposed text would tax certain vaping products and require most in-state retailers to get a license and report sales monthly. The tax covers closed electronic smoking products and vapor products; the license requirement covers businesses that sell electronic smoking products at retail, with stated exceptions. The tax would be 25 percent of the retail price of closed vaping devices and vapor products. Listed exemptions include certain FDA-approved medicines and qualifying nicotine-free marijuana and hemp products. Out-of-state sellers would collect the tax only if they had more than 200 Alaska transactions in the current or preceding calendar year. The tax proceeds could be used for tobacco prevention and school efforts to prevent or detect product use. These tax and retailer provisions would take effect July 1, 2027, if the measure took effect.
The proposed text would allow cigar smoking in qualifying retail cigar stores unless the owner or operator prohibits it. This applies to retail cigar stores meeting the stated business and building requirements. A qualifying store must earn at least 60 percent of its yearly revenue from on-site cigar sales and humidor rentals, ban cigarettes, and have a built-in humidor. The building must meet separation and entrance rules; smoking must be limited to cigars, and the store cannot be a pull-tab business or a retail store inside an indoor public place or workplace. This provision would take effect July 1, 2026, if the measure took effect.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 19(S) VETOED BY Governor Mike Dunleavy 6/18/26Latest
- Jun 4(S) 10:14 A.M. 6/1/26 Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- Jun 4(S) MANIFEST ERROR(S)
- May 20(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- Vote recorded (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y15 N5 #2816. Result: pass.Upper
- May 20(S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y15 N5
- May 20(S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP
- May 19(H) VERSION: HCS CSSB 24(FIN) AM H
- Vote recorded (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y39 N1 #2920. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded (H) PASSED Y24 N16 #2919. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded (H) AM NO 6 AS AMD WITHDRAWN Y27 N13 # 2919. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded (H) AM NO 3 FAILED Y19 N21 # 2913. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded (H) AM NO 4 ADOPTED Y21 N19 # 2915. Result: pass.Lower
- May 19(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDEDMajor
- May 19(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y39 N1
- May 19(H) PASSED Y24 N16Major
- May 19(H) READ THE THIRD TIME HCS CSSB 24(FIN) AM HMinor
- May 19(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UCMinor
- May 19(H) AM NO 6 AS AMD WITHDRAWN Y27 N13
- May 19(H) AM 1 TO AM 6 ADOPTED UC
- May 19(H) AM NO 6 OFFERED
- May 19(H) AM NO 5 NOT OFFERED
- May 19(H) TITLE CHANGE: HCR 32
- May 19(H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION
- May 19(H) AM NO 4 ADOPTED Y21 N19Major
- May 19(H) AM NO 3 FAILED Y19 N21Minor
- May 19(H) AM NO 2 WITHDRAWN
- May 19(H) BEFORE HOUSE IN SECOND READING
- May 18(H) Moved HCS CSSB 24(FIN) Out of Committee -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --
- May 18(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 18(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): MEARS, GRAY, CARRICK
- May 18(H) ADJOURNED AND HELD IN SECOND READING TO 5/19 CALENDAR
- May 18(H) AM NO 2 OFFERED AND PENDING
- May 18(H) AM NO 1 NOT OFFERED
- May 18(H) FIN HCS ADOPTED UC
- May 18(H) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- May 18(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/18/2026
- May 18(H) FN17: ZERO(AJS)
- May 18(H) FN16: ZERO(DPS)
- May 18(H) FN15: ZERO(LAW)
- May 18(H) FN14: ZERO(DOH)
- May 18(H) FN13: ZERO(CED)
- May 18(H) FN12: ZERO(ADM)
- May 18(H) FN11: ZERO(ADM)
- May 18(H) FN10: (REV)
- May 18(H) AM: BYNUM, JIMMIE
- May 18(H) NR: ALLARD, TOMASZEWSKI
- May 18(H) DP: MOORE, HANNAN, GALVIN, JOSEPHSON, SCHRAGE, FOSTER
- May 18(H) FIN RPT HCS(FIN) 6DP 2NR 2AM
- May 17(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- May 17(H) Moved HCS CSSB 24(FIN) Out of Committee -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --
- May 17(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- May 17(H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Recessed to a Call of the Chair --
- May 17(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 17(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): HANNAN
- May 16(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- May 16(H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 15 min Following Session --
- May 16(H) FINANCE at 06:00 PM ADAMS 519
- May 16(H) -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --
- May 16(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- May 16(H) Heard & Held
- May 16(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 15(H) Scheduled but Not Heard
- May 15(H) FINANCE at 06:00 PM ADAMS 519
- May 14(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): GALVIN
- May 11(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- May 11(H) Heard & Held -- Recessed to a Call of the Chair --
- May 11(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- May 7(H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --
- May 7(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 5(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- May 5(H) Scheduled but Not Heard
- May 5(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- 2025
- May 18(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- May 18(H) <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- Recessed to a Call of the Chair --
- May 18(H) FINANCE at 12:00 PM ADAMS 519
- May 13(H) FIN
- May 13(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSMinor
- May 12(S) VERSION: CSSB 24(FIN)
- Vote recorded (S) PASSED Y15 N5 #1226. Result: pass.Upper
- May 12(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)Passed House
- May 12(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- May 12(S) PASSED Y15 N5Passed Senate
- May 12(S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 24(FIN)Minor
- May 9(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/12 CALMinor
- May 9(S) FIN CS ADOPTED UC
- May 9(S) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- May 9(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/9/2025
- May 9(S) FN9: (REV)
- May 9(S) FN8: ZERO(LAW)
- May 9(S) FN7: ZERO(AJS)
- May 9(S) FN6: ZERO(DPS)
- May 9(S) FN4: ZERO(DOH)
- May 9(S) FN3: ZERO(ADM)
- May 9(S) FN2: ZERO(ADM)
- May 9(S) FN1: ZERO(CED)
- May 9(S) AM: KAUFMAN
- May 9(S) NR: STEDMAN, CRONK, MERRICK
- May 9(S) DP: OLSON, HOFFMAN, KIEHL
- May 9(S) FIN RPT CS 3DP 3NR 1AM SAME TITLE
- May 7(S) Minutes (SFIN)
- May 7(S) Moved CSSB 24(FIN) Out of Committee
- May 7(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
- Apr 1(S) Minutes (SFIN)
- Apr 1(S) Heard & Held
- Apr 1(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
- Mar 14(S) FN8: ZERO(LAW)
- Mar 14(S) FN7: ZERO(AJS)
- Mar 14(S) FN6: ZERO(DPS)
- Mar 14(S) FN5: (REV)
- Mar 14(S) FN4: ZERO(DOH)
- Mar 14(S) FN3: ZERO(ADM)
- Mar 14(S) FN2: ZERO(ADM)
- Mar 14(S) FN1: ZERO(CED)
- Mar 14(S) NR: MERRICK, YUNDT
- Mar 14(S) DP: BJORKMAN, DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON
- Mar 14(S) L&C RPT CS 3DP 2NR SAME TITLE
- Mar 12(S) Minutes (SL&C)
- Mar 12(S) Moved CSSB 24(L&C) Out of Committee
- Mar 12(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Mar 3(S) Minutes (SL&C)
- Mar 3(S) Heard & Held
- Mar 3(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Feb 24(S) Minutes (SL&C)
- Feb 24(S) Heard & Held
- Feb 24(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Jan 22(S) COSPONSOR(S): GIESSEL, GRAY-JACKSON
- Jan 22(S) L&C, FIN
- Jan 22(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSMinor
- Jan 22(S) Prefile released 1/10/25Introduced
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