Bill Sponsors
Representative William W. O'Brien
Committee
House Finance
Summary
Select
This bill changes the rules for selling flavored electronic vapor products (like e-cigarettes). It allows specialized, age-restricted "electronic nicotine-delivery system shops" to sell flavored vape products, which are otherwise banned from sale in the state. The bill requires these shops to strictly verify the age of buyers, who must be at least 21. It also directs 10% of the revenue from these sales to fund tobacco cessation programs. Finally, it doubles the penalties for shops caught breaking these rules or selling to minors, and forces violators to pay the costs for storing or destroying confiscated products.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Directs 10% of revenues to tobacco cessation programs, bolstering public health services and providing a social safety net for individuals struggling with addiction.
- Imposes strict age verification requirements and doubles penalties for selling to underage buyers, protecting youth from predatory practices.
- Shifts the financial burden of enforcing the law by making violating shops pay for the storage and destruction of confiscated materials, holding businesses accountable.
Cons for Progressives
- Reintroduces flavored nicotine products to the market, which progressive public health advocates argue disproportionately target and addict youth and marginalized communities.
- By allowing specialized shops to sell these products, it may increase the availability of addictive substances in lower-income neighborhoods where such shops are frequently concentrated.
- Relying on a percentage of sales revenue to fund tobacco cessation programs creates a perverse incentive where public health funding depends on the continued sale of addictive products.
Pros for Conservatives
- Restores free market principles by lifting the blanket ban on flavored electronic nicotine products and allowing specialized businesses to sell them.
- Promotes personal freedom and individual responsibility by allowing adults over the age of 21 to make their own choices regarding the purchase of flavored vape products.
- Holds rule-breaking businesses financially responsible for their own infractions by forcing them to pay the costs of storing and destroying confiscated goods, shielding taxpayers from these costs.
Cons for Conservatives
- Imposes an effective 10% tax or revenue seizure on specialized vape shops to fund government-run tobacco cessation programs, penalizing businesses to expand government services.
- Creates a two-tiered regulatory system that picks winners and losers in the market by allowing only specific exempt shops to sell flavored products while banning other retailers.
- Doubles government penalties and fines for infractions, which could be seen as an excessive regulatory burden that threatens the survival of small businesses.
Constitutional Concerns
There is a slight First Amendment commercial speech risk regarding the provision that presumes a product has a "characterizing flavor" based on statements or claims made by a dealer or manufacturer. This could potentially chill lawful advertising or product descriptions. However, because commercial speech concerning regulated and potentially harmful products is subject to lower scrutiny, the risk of it being found unconstitutional is relatively low.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Vape shop owners
- Adult vape product consumers
- Tobacco cessation programs
- Minors and youth
- Cannabis compassion centers and cultivators
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
10% of revenues from electronic nicotine-delivery systems sold by exempt shops; double penalties for shop violations. Amount unknown.
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
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Freedom Impact
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Public Services
How much the bill is likely to impact one or more public services.
Regulatory
Estimated regulatory burden imposed on the subject(s) of the bill.
Clarity of Bill Language
How clear the language of the bill is. Higher ambiguity equals a lower score.
Enforcement Provisions
Measures enforcement provisions and penalties for non-compliance (if applicable).
Environmental Impact
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Privacy Impact
Impact the bill is likely to have on the privacy of individuals.
Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 03/27/2026 Introduced, referred to House Finance
• 04/24/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
• 04/28/2026 Committee postponed at request of sponsor (04/29/2026)
• 04/24/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
• 04/28/2026 Committee postponed at request of sponsor (04/29/2026)
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Sections 40-20-1 and 44-20-61 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-20 entitled "Cigarette, Other Tobacco Products, and Electronic Nicotine-Delivery System Products" are hereby amended to read as follows:
44-20-1. Definitions.
Whenever used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:
(1) "Administrator" means the tax administrator.
(2) "Cigarettes" means and includes any cigarettes suitable for smoking in cigarette form, "heat not burn products," and each sheet of cigarette rolling paper, including but not limited to, paper made into a hollow cylinder or cone, made with paper or any other material, with or without a filter suitable for use in making cigarettes.
(3) "Dealer" means any person whether located within or outside of this state, who sells or distributes cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products to a consumer in this state.
(4) "Distributor" means any person:
(i) Whether located within or outside of this state, other than a dealer, who sells or distributes cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products within or into this state. Such term shall not include any cigarette or other tobacco product manufacturer, export warehouse proprietor, or importer with a valid permit under 26 U.S.C. § 5712, if such person sells or distributes cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products in this state only to licensed distributors, or to an export warehouse proprietor or another manufacturer with a valid permit under 26 U.S.C. § 5712;
(ii) Selling cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products directly to purchasers in this state by means of at least twenty-five (25) vending machines;
(iii) Engaged in this state in the business of manufacturing cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products or any person engaged in the business of selling cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products to dealers, or to other persons, for the purpose of resale only; provided, that seventy-five percent (75%) of all cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products sold by that person in this state are sold to dealers or other persons for resale and selling cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products directly to at least forty (40) dealers or other persons for resale; or
(iv) Maintaining one or more regular places of business in this state for that purpose; provided, that seventy-five percent (75%) of the sold cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products are purchased directly from the manufacturer and selling cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products directly to at least forty (40) dealers or other persons for resale.
(5) "Electronic nicotine-delivery system" means an electronic device that may be used to simulate smoking in the delivery of nicotine or other substance to a person inhaling from the device, and includes, but is not limited to, an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic little cigars, electronic pipe, electronic hookah, e-liquids, e-liquid products, or any related device and any cartridge or other component of such device.
(6) "Electronic nicotine-delivery system products" means any combination of electronic nicotine-delivery system and/or e-liquid and/or any derivative thereof, and/or any e-liquid container. Electronic nicotine-delivery system products shall include hemp-derived consumable CBD products as defined in § 2-26-3.
(7) "Electronic nicotine-delivery system shop" means any premises dedicated to the display, sale, distribution, delivery, offering, furnishing, or marketing of electronic nicotine- delivery system products, liquid nicotine containers or vapor products, or any products as defined in § 11-9-13.4, to consumers over the age of twenty-one (21), in compliance with chapter 9 of title 11.
(7)(8) "E-liquid" and "e-liquid products" mean any liquid or substance placed in or sold for LC006208 - Page 2 of 6 use in an electronic nicotine-delivery system that generally utilizes a heating element that aerosolizes, vaporizes, or combusts a liquid or other substance containing nicotine or nicotine derivative:
(i) Whether the liquid or substance contains nicotine or a nicotine derivative; or
(ii) Whether sold separately or sold in combination with a personal vaporizer, electronic nicotine-delivery system, or an electronic inhaler.
(8)(9) "Importer" means any person who imports into the United States, either directly or indirectly, a finished cigarette or other tobacco product and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system product for sale or distribution.
(9)(10) "Licensed," when used with reference to a manufacturer, importer, distributor, or dealer, means only those persons who hold a valid and current license issued under § 44-20-2 for the type of business being engaged in. When the term "licensed" is used before a list of entities, such as "licensed manufacturer, importer, wholesale dealer, or retailer dealer," such term shall be deemed to apply to each entity in such list.
(10)(11) "Manufacturer" means any person who manufactures, fabricates, assembles, processes, or labels a finished cigarette and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine- delivery system products.
(11)(12) "Other tobacco products" (OTP) means any products that are made from or derived from tobacco or that contain nicotine, whether natural or artificial, including, but not limited to, cigars (excluding Little Cigars, as defined in § 44-20.2-1, which are subject to cigarette tax), cheroots, stogies, smoking tobacco (including granulated, plug cut, crimp cut, ready rubbed and any other kinds and forms of tobacco suitable for smoking in a pipe or otherwise), chewing tobacco (including Cavendish, twist, plug, scrap and any other kinds and forms of tobacco suitable for chewing), any and all forms of hookah, shisha and "mu’assel" tobacco, snuff, and shall include any other articles or products made of, derived from, or containing tobacco or nicotine, in whole or in part, or any tobacco or nicotine substitute, except cigarettes and electronic nicotine-delivery system products. Other tobacco products shall not mean any product that has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the sale of or use as a tobacco or nicotine cessation product or for other medical purposes and is marketed and sold or prescribed exclusively for that approved purpose.
(12)(13) "Person" means any individual, including an employee or agent, firm, fiduciary, partnership, corporation, trust, or association, however formed.
(13)(14) "Pipe" means an apparatus made of any material used to burn or vaporize products so that the smoke or vapors can be inhaled or ingested by the user. LC006208 - Page 3 of 6
(14)(15) "Place of business" means any location where cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products are sold, stored, or kept, including, but not limited to; any storage room, attic, basement, garage or other facility immediately adjacent to the location. It also includes any receptacle, hide, vessel, vehicle, airplane, train, or vending machine.
(15)(16) "Sale" or "sell" means gifts, exchanges, and barter of cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products. The act of holding, storing, or keeping cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products at a place of business for any purpose shall be presumed to be holding the cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products for sale. Furthermore, any sale of cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products by the servants, employees, or agents of the licensed dealer during business hours at the place of business shall be presumed to be a sale by the licensee.
(16)(17) "Stamp" means the impression, device, stamp, label, or print manufactured, printed, or made as prescribed by the administrator to be affixed to packages of cigarettes, as evidence of the payment of the tax provided by this chapter or to indicate that the cigarettes are intended for a sale or distribution in this state that is exempt from state tax under the provisions of state law; and also includes impressions made by metering machines authorized to be used under the provisions of this chapter.
44-20-61. Product restrictions on electronic nicotine-delivery system products.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Characterizing flavor" means a distinguishable taste or aroma, other than the taste or aroma of tobacco or menthol, whether naturally or artificially flavored, distinguishable by an ordinary consumer, imparted either prior to, or during, consumption of an electronic nicotine- delivery system product or component part thereof, including, but not limited to, tastes or aromas relating to any fruit, mint, wintergreen, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb, or spice or which impart a cooling or numbing sensation. The determination of whether an electronic nicotine-delivery system product has a characterizing flavor shall not be based solely on the use of additives, flavorings, or particular ingredients, but shall instead consider all aspects of a final product including, but not limited to, taste, flavor and aroma, product labeling, and advertising statements. A flavor shall be presumed to be a characterizing flavor if a dealer, manufacturer, or distributor has made a statement or claim directed to consumers or the public about such flavor, whether expressed or implied, that it has a distinguishable taste or aroma (other than the taste or aroma of tobacco or menthol). LC006208 - Page 4 of 6
(2) "Electronic nicotine-delivery system shop" as defined in § 44-20-1.
(3) "Flavored electronic nicotine-delivery system product" means any electronic nicotine- delivery system product that imparts a characterizing flavor.
(b) The sale, or offer for sale of, or the possession with intent to sell or to offer for sale, flavored electronic nicotine-delivery system products to consumers within the state of Rhode Island is hereby prohibited, except at an electronic nicotine-delivery system shop. Compassion centers and licensed cultivators registered with the state of Rhode Island department of business regulation- office of cannabis regulation under chapter 28.6 of title 21 are exempt from this provision except as to products that contain, are made of, or are derived from tobacco or nicotine, natural or synthetic. No electronic nicotine-delivery system shop shall sell, distribute, or permit the sale of any electronic nicotine-delivery system or related product unless the purchaser’s age has been verified.
(c) Ten percent (10%) of revenues collected from the sale of electronic nicotine-delivery systems sold by exempt shops shall be transferred to the tobacco cessation programs established in § 27-20-53.
(d) Any penalties assessed for electronics nicotine-delivery shops in violation of this section, or in violation of § 11-9-13, shall be doubled. Any costs associated with storing and/or destroying confiscated material shall be borne by the shop from whom the material was confiscated.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
44-20-1. Definitions.
Whenever used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:
(1) "Administrator" means the tax administrator.
(2) "Cigarettes" means and includes any cigarettes suitable for smoking in cigarette form, "heat not burn products," and each sheet of cigarette rolling paper, including but not limited to, paper made into a hollow cylinder or cone, made with paper or any other material, with or without a filter suitable for use in making cigarettes.
(3) "Dealer" means any person whether located within or outside of this state, who sells or distributes cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products to a consumer in this state.
(4) "Distributor" means any person:
(i) Whether located within or outside of this state, other than a dealer, who sells or distributes cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products within or into this state. Such term shall not include any cigarette or other tobacco product manufacturer, export warehouse proprietor, or importer with a valid permit under 26 U.S.C. § 5712, if such person sells or distributes cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products in this state only to licensed distributors, or to an export warehouse proprietor or another manufacturer with a valid permit under 26 U.S.C. § 5712;
(ii) Selling cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products directly to purchasers in this state by means of at least twenty-five (25) vending machines;
(iii) Engaged in this state in the business of manufacturing cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products or any person engaged in the business of selling cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products to dealers, or to other persons, for the purpose of resale only; provided, that seventy-five percent (75%) of all cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products sold by that person in this state are sold to dealers or other persons for resale and selling cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products directly to at least forty (40) dealers or other persons for resale; or
(iv) Maintaining one or more regular places of business in this state for that purpose; provided, that seventy-five percent (75%) of the sold cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products are purchased directly from the manufacturer and selling cigarettes and/or other tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products directly to at least forty (40) dealers or other persons for resale.
(5) "Electronic nicotine-delivery system" means an electronic device that may be used to simulate smoking in the delivery of nicotine or other substance to a person inhaling from the device, and includes, but is not limited to, an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic little cigars, electronic pipe, electronic hookah, e-liquids, e-liquid products, or any related device and any cartridge or other component of such device.
(6) "Electronic nicotine-delivery system products" means any combination of electronic nicotine-delivery system and/or e-liquid and/or any derivative thereof, and/or any e-liquid container. Electronic nicotine-delivery system products shall include hemp-derived consumable CBD products as defined in § 2-26-3.
(7) "Electronic nicotine-delivery system shop" means any premises dedicated to the display, sale, distribution, delivery, offering, furnishing, or marketing of electronic nicotine- delivery system products, liquid nicotine containers or vapor products, or any products as defined in § 11-9-13.4, to consumers over the age of twenty-one (21), in compliance with chapter 9 of title 11.
(i) Whether the liquid or substance contains nicotine or a nicotine derivative; or
(ii) Whether sold separately or sold in combination with a personal vaporizer, electronic nicotine-delivery system, or an electronic inhaler.
44-20-61. Product restrictions on electronic nicotine-delivery system products.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Characterizing flavor" means a distinguishable taste or aroma, other than the taste or aroma of tobacco or menthol, whether naturally or artificially flavored, distinguishable by an ordinary consumer, imparted either prior to, or during, consumption of an electronic nicotine- delivery system product or component part thereof, including, but not limited to, tastes or aromas relating to any fruit, mint, wintergreen, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb, or spice or which impart a cooling or numbing sensation. The determination of whether an electronic nicotine-delivery system product has a characterizing flavor shall not be based solely on the use of additives, flavorings, or particular ingredients, but shall instead consider all aspects of a final product including, but not limited to, taste, flavor and aroma, product labeling, and advertising statements. A flavor shall be presumed to be a characterizing flavor if a dealer, manufacturer, or distributor has made a statement or claim directed to consumers or the public about such flavor, whether expressed or implied, that it has a distinguishable taste or aroma (other than the taste or aroma of tobacco or menthol). LC006208 - Page 4 of 6
(2) "Electronic nicotine-delivery system shop" as defined in § 44-20-1.
(3) "Flavored electronic nicotine-delivery system product" means any electronic nicotine- delivery system product that imparts a characterizing flavor.
(b) The sale, or offer for sale of, or the possession with intent to sell or to offer for sale, flavored electronic nicotine-delivery system products to consumers within the state of Rhode Island is hereby prohibited, except at an electronic nicotine-delivery system shop. Compassion centers and licensed cultivators registered with the state of Rhode Island department of business regulation- office of cannabis regulation under chapter 28.6 of title 21 are exempt from this provision except as to products that contain, are made of, or are derived from tobacco or nicotine, natural or synthetic. No electronic nicotine-delivery system shop shall sell, distribute, or permit the sale of any electronic nicotine-delivery system or related product unless the purchaser’s age has been verified.
(c) Ten percent (10%) of revenues collected from the sale of electronic nicotine-delivery systems sold by exempt shops shall be transferred to the tobacco cessation programs established in § 27-20-53.
(d) Any penalties assessed for electronics nicotine-delivery shops in violation of this section, or in violation of § 11-9-13, shall be doubled. Any costs associated with storing and/or destroying confiscated material shall be borne by the shop from whom the material was confiscated.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.