VermontVermont tobacco sellers face higher fees and stricter rules
Tobacco sellers would face new fee amounts and enforcement rules, while minors using false identification could receive community service or cessation help.
What it does
Retailers would pay $150 a year for a tobacco license or renewal and $75 for a tobacco substitute endorsement. The definition of tobacco substitutes would include products such as nicotine pouches.
Minors found with tobacco products, substitutes, or related equipment would not face the listed $25 civil penalty. A minor using false ID to buy them could instead be assigned up to 10 hours of community service or a youth cessation program.
Store clerks and retailers would face separate penalties for selling or giving tobacco products, substitutes, or related equipment to minors. Retailers with repeated violations could face administrative penalties and lose their license after a fifth violation.
Online, mail, and phone orders sent to Vermont retailers would have to come from a Vermont-licensed wholesaler. Tobacco items involved in certain violations would be destroyed at the violator’s expense under hazardous-waste rules.
Argument forCommunity service or cessation help could give minors caught using false ID a chance to address tobacco use without a fine.
Argument againstHigher store and wholesale license fees could raise costs for Vermont tobacco sellers, especially smaller retailers.
More detail
Tobacco and tobacco substitute sellers would pay higher annual license fees, and the definition of tobacco substitutes would cover more nicotine products, including nicotine pouches. The fees apply to retail tobacco licenses and renewals and to tobacco substitute endorsements. The summary says the act has multiple effective dates beginning July 1, 2026, but does not give the effective date for these provisions.
A minor found possessing tobacco products, substitutes, or related equipment would no longer face the listed civil penalty; a minor using false ID could receive community service or attend a cessation program. These rules cover minors and tobacco products, tobacco substitutes, and tobacco paraphernalia. The community service or cessation program option applies to a minor who uses false identification to buy these items. The summary does not give a specific effective date for these penalty provisions.
Retailers and clerks who sell or give tobacco products, substitutes, or related equipment to minors would face separate penalties; a retailer’s license could be revoked after a fifth violation. The penalties apply to store clerks and retailers who violate laws against selling or furnishing these items to minors. The fifth-violation license revocation applies to the retailer. The summary does not give a specific effective date for these enforcement provisions.
Online orders for delivery to Vermont retailers would have to come through a Vermont-licensed wholesaler, and certain products sold in violation of tobacco laws would be destroyed at the violator’s expense. The shipping rule applies to deliveries to Vermont retailers; the destruction rule applies to violators of certain tobacco laws. The shipping rule covers tobacco products, substitutes, and related equipment ordered online, by mail, or by phone for a retailer in Vermont. Destruction applies to items sold, offered for sale, or possessed in violation of certain tobacco laws and must follow state hazardous-waste disposal rules. The summary does not give specific effective dates for these provisions.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29Senate Message: Signed by Governor Phil Scott June 16, 2026Latest
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 16, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 10, 2026To Governor
- May 22Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 21As passed by Senate and HouseMajor
- May 21House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 21House proposal of amendment; textMinor
- May 21House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 20House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 20Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 19House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment
- May 15Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 15Rep. Kornheiser of Brattleboro moved to amend the House proposal of amendment, which was agreed toMinor
- May 15Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- May 14Third Reading orderedMinor
- May 14Report of Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, as amended, agreed to
- May 14Report of Committee on Commerce and Economic Development amended as recommended by Committee on Human Services
- May 14Rep. Burkhardt of South Burlington recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means
- May 14Rep. Noyes of Wolcott reported for the Committee on Human Services
- May 14Rep. Graning of Jericho reported for the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
- May 14Read second timeMinor
- May 14Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- May 13Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- May 8Referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)
- May 8Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Apr 15Rep. Marcotte of Coventry moved to suspend rules to take up for immediate consideration and commit to Committee on Human Services, which was agreed to
- Apr 3Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic DevelopmentMinor
- Apr 1Title amended as recommended by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs
- Apr 1Read 3rd time & passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Apr 1New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 313rd reading ordered
- Mar 31Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs, as amended, agreed to
- Mar 31Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs amended as moved by Senator Chittenden and Brock
- Mar 31Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs amended as moved by Senator Perchlik, Baruth, Brennan, Norris, and Westman
- Mar 31Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs amended as recommended by Committee on Finance
- Mar 31Reported without recommendation by Senator Perchlik for Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 31Reported favorably by Senator Chittenden for Committee on Finance with recommendation of amendmentMinor
- Mar 31Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Chittenden for Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- Mar 31Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Perchlik
- Mar 31Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Chittenden
- Mar 31Reported without recommendation by Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 31Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Mar 31Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- Mar 31Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 27Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Perchlik
- Mar 27Reported without recommendation by Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 27Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Mar 27Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- Mar 27Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 26Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Perchlik
- Mar 26Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 26Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Mar 26Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- Mar 26Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 25Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Perchlik
- Mar 25Reported without recommendation by Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 25Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Mar 25Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- Mar 25Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 24Recommendation of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Perchlik
- Mar 24Reported without recommendation by Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 24Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Mar 24Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- Mar 24Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 24Entered on Notice Calendar
- Mar 20Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
- Mar 20Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 20Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Mar 20Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- Mar 20Entered on Notice Calendar
- Mar 13Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31
- Mar 13Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsMinor
- Mar 13Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 13Entered on Notice Calendar
- Jan 6Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsIntroduced
Consumer ProtectionTaxes & BudgetPublic Safety