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HB623 • 2026

TOBACCO/TOBACCO PRODUCTS: Provides for a three-tier system of permitting for the producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers of vapor products (RRF NO IMPACT GF EX See Note)

TOBACCO/TOBACCO PRODUCTS: Provides for a three-tier system of permitting for the producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers of vapor products (RRF NO IMPACT GF EX See Note)

Taxes
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Chance Henry
Last action
2026-05-29
Official status
Adopted in House concurrence
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details on the penalties or enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance with the permitting system.

Vapor Product Permitting System

This bill establishes a three-tier permitting system for vapor product producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers in Louisiana.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a new law requiring separate permits for vapor product producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers.
  • Prohibits manufacturers from selling directly to retailers or consumers.
  • Prevents wholesalers from holding retail dealer permits.
  • Forbids retailers from purchasing products from anyone except licensed wholesalers.
  • Allows wholesalers to sell to affiliated retailers but not to regular retailers.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Vapor product producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers in Louisiana.

Terms To Know

affiliated entity
A company or person that is directly or indirectly controlled by another company or person.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not apply to lawful marijuana products.
  • The bill does not specify an effective date, so it's unclear when the new rules will start.
  • It only applies to vapor products and does not cover other tobacco products.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Filed

Plain English: The amendment adds provisions allowing third-party delivery services to deliver vapor products, alternative nicotine products, or smokeless tobacco products under certain conditions and sets an effective date for the law starting January 1, 2027.

  • Allows a person to receive delivery of vapor products, alternative nicotine products, or smokeless tobacco products from a third-party service contracted by a Louisiana retail establishment licensed to sell these items.
  • Sets the effective date of the Act for taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
  • The amendment text does not provide specific details about how age verification will be conducted during delivery.
Filed

Plain English: The amendment to HB623 is about agreeing with changes made by the Senate regarding a three-tier system of permits for vapor product producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers.

  • Agrees with Senate amendments related to the regulation of vapor products through a permitting system.
  • The official amendment text does not provide specific details about the nature of the Senate's changes or what exactly is being agreed upon.
Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds new rules to prevent vapor product manufacturers and dealers from owning retail stores, selling directly to consumers, or having financial interests in other dealers.

  • Adds restrictions for Louisiana-permitted manufacturers of vapor products so they cannot own retail dealer permits, wholesale dealer permits, or have financial interests in such entities.
  • Prohibits wholesalers from holding retail dealer permits and retailers from purchasing vapor products from anyone except a permitted wholesaler.
  • Bans direct sales from manufacturers to retail dealers and prohibits direct shipment of vapor products to consumers by manufacturers or out-of-state sellers.
  • The amendment text does not specify penalties for violating these new restrictions.
Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes specific lines from the bill that were likely related to permitting requirements for vapor product producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers.

  • Removed lines 8 and 9 on page 2 of the bill.
  • The exact content of the removed lines is not provided, so it's unclear what specific changes this amendment makes to the permitting requirements for vapor products.
Draft

Plain English: The amendment removes specific lines from the bill that likely contained restrictions on vapor product sales, replacing them with a simpler statement prohibiting certain sellers.

  • Removes two lines of text from page 2 of the bill.
  • The exact content removed is not provided in the amendment text, making it unclear what specific restrictions were eliminated.
  • It's uncertain which 'in-state or out-of-state seller' is being referred to and under what circumstances they are prohibited.
Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes references to tobacco products and adds specific language about vapor products, while also deleting certain sections related to tracking systems and additional regulations.

  • Removes mentions of 'tobacco or' before terms like 'permits', 'products', and 'manufacturer'.
  • Adds the phrase 'of vapor products' where applicable.
  • Deletes lines that refer to a tracking system for tobacco products.
  • The exact impact of deleting certain sections is not fully explained in the provided text.
Draft

Plain English: The amendment removes references to tobacco products and adds specific language about vapor products, focusing on the producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers involved.

  • Removes mentions of 'tobacco' in various sections related to permits and tracking systems.
  • Adds or clarifies that the bill applies specifically to vapor products for producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers.
  • Deletes lines from page 2 and all of page 3.
  • The exact impact of deleting lines on page 2 and all of page 3 is not fully explained in the provided text.
Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds language about modified risk tobacco products and delivery services for certain tobacco-related items.

  • Adds 'and modified risk tobacco products' after 'products' in the bill's title.
  • Inserts a new section to provide an effective date for implementing reduced taxes on modified risk tobacco products.
  • Allows third-party delivery of vapor, alternative nicotine, and smokeless tobacco products from licensed Louisiana retailers if the recipient is verified as being of legal age.
  • The amendment text does not specify details about how the verification process for deliveries will work.
Draft

Plain English: The amendment adds language to include modified risk tobacco products in the bill's scope and sets an effective date for reduced taxes on these products.

  • Adds 'and modified risk tobacco products' after 'products' in the first line of the bill.
  • Inserts a new section providing an effective date for implementing reduced taxes on modified risk tobacco products.
  • Includes provisions allowing third-party delivery services to deliver vapor, alternative nicotine, and smokeless tobacco products from licensed Louisiana retail establishments.
  • The amendment text does not provide specific details about the tax rates or other regulatory measures for modified risk tobacco products.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-29 H

    Read by title, roll called, yeas 97, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.

  2. 2026-05-29 H

    Scheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.

  3. 2026-05-28 H

    Received from the Senate with amendments.

  4. 2026-05-28 S

    Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 31 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  5. 2026-05-27 S

    Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

  6. 2026-05-27 S

    Rules suspended. Reported with amendments. Rules suspended. Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  7. 2026-05-18 S

    Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary B.

  8. 2026-05-14 S

    Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  9. 2026-05-13 H

    Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 93, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  10. 2026-05-12 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 05/13/2026.

  11. 2026-05-12 H

    Read by title, amended, ordered reengrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  12. 2026-05-11 H

    Reported with amendments (17-0).

  13. 2026-04-27 H

    Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations.

  14. 2026-04-23 H

    Reported with amendments (16-0).

  15. 2026-03-09 H

    Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

  16. 2026-02-27 H

    First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

  17. 2026-02-27 H

    Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

  18. 2026-02-27 H

    Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

TOBACCO/TOBACCO PRODUCTS: Provides for a three-tier system of permitting for the producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers of vapor products (RRF NO IMPACT GF EX See Note)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HLS 26RS-1231 RE-REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 623
BY REPRESENTATIVE CHANCE HENRY
TOBACCO/TOBACCO PRODUCTS: Provides for a three-tier system of permitting for the
producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers of vapor products
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 26:914.1, relative to permits for vapor products; to provide for requirements
3 for certain permitted manufacturers and dealers of vapor products; to provide for
4 limitations and requirements; to except certain sales of vapor products to affiliated
5 entities; to provide for certain exceptions; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 26:914.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §914.1. Three-tier system for vapor products
9 A.(1) No Louisiana-permitted manufacturer of vapor products shall do any
10 of the following:
11 (a) Hold a retail dealer permit issued pursuant to this Chapter for the purpose
12 of selling vapor products to Louisiana consumers.
13 (b) Hold a wholesale dealer permit issued pursuant to this Chapter for the
14 purpose of selling vapor products to Louisiana consumers.
15 (c) Possess any direct or indirect financial interest in a Louisiana-permitted
16 wholesale dealer or retail dealer of vapor products.
17 (2) No Louisiana-permitted wholesale dealer of vapor products shall hold a
18 retail dealer permit issued pursuant to this Chapter for the purpose of selling vapor
19 products to Louisiana consumers.
Page 1 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1231 RE-REENGROSSED
HB NO. 623
1 (3) No Louisiana-permitted retail dealer of vapor products shall do either of
2 the following:
3 (a) Hold a wholesale dealer permit issued pursuant to this Chapter for the
4 purpose of selling vapor products to other Louisiana-permitted retail dealers.
5 (b) Purchase vapor products from any person other than a
6 Louisiana-permitted wholesaler dealer.
7 B.(1) A Louisiana-permitted manufacturer shall not sell vapor products
8 directly to a Louisiana-permitted retail dealer for resale to Louisiana consumers.
9 (2) Direct shipment of vapor products from a Louisiana-permitted
10 manufacturer to a Louisiana-permitted retail dealer is prohibited.
11 (3) Direct to consumer shipment of vapor products from a manufacturer or
12 out-of-state or in-state seller to a Louisiana consumer is prohibited.
13 (4) A Louisiana-permitted wholesale dealer may sell or distribute vapor
14 products or any other product covered by this Chapter to a Louisiana-permitted retail
15 dealer that is an affiliated entity of the wholesale dealer. The term "affiliated entity"
16 as used in this Section shall mean any person or entity that directly or indirectly
17 controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another person or entity.
18 C. The provisions of this Section do not apply to lawful marijuana or
19 marijuana products authorized pursuant to R.S. 40:1046 et seq. and regulated by the
20 Louisiana Department of Health.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 623 Re-Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Chance Henry
Abstract: Provides for a three-tier system for La.- permitted producers, manufacturers, and
wholesalers of vapor products.
Present law (R.S. 26:902) provides for the issuance of retail dealer and wholesale dealer
permits for the sale of vapor products in the state of La.
Proposed law retains present law and provides for a three-tier system for the issuance of
permits for the sale of vapor products in the state of La.
Page 2 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1231 RE-REENGROSSED
HB NO. 623
Proposed law provides that a La.-permitted manufacturer of vapor products cannot:
(1) Hold a retail dealer permit to sell vapor products to La. consumers.
(2) Hold a wholesale dealer permit to sell vapor products to La. consumers.
(3) Possess any direct or indirect financial interest in a permitted wholesaler or retailer
in the state of La.
(4) Sell vapor products to a La.-permitted retail dealer for resale to La. consumers.
(5) Directly sell vapor products.
Proposed law provides that a La.-permitted wholesaler of vapor products cannot hold a retail
dealer permit to sell vapor products to La. consumers.
Proposed law provides that a La.-permitted retailer of vapor products cannot:
(1) Hold a wholesaler permit to sell vapor products to other La.-permitted retail dealers.
(2) Purchase vapor products from any person other than a wholesaler with a valid permit
issued in the state of La.
Proposed law prohibits the direct shipment of vapor products to a consumer by a La.-
permitted manufacturer or in-state or out-of state seller.
Proposed law allows a La.-permitted wholesaler to sell or distribute vapor products to a La.-
permitted retailer that is an affiliated entity of the wholesaler. Further defines "affiliated
entity".
Proposed law excludes lawful marijuana or marijuana products authorized by the La. Dept.
of Health from the requirements of proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 26:914.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original
bill:
1. Remove tobacco products from the proposed three-tier permitting system for
producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers of such products.
2. Exclude lawful marijuana or marijuana products authorized by the La. Dept. of
Health from the three-tier permitting system.
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Appropriations to the
engrossed bill:
1. Prohibit direct shipment to a consumer from a manufacturer or in-state or out-of-
state seller.
The House Floor Amendments to the reengrossed bill:
1. Clarify that the three-tier system for the issuance of permits for vapor products
applies to La.-permitted manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers.
Page 3 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1231 RE-REENGROSSED
HB NO. 623
2. Prohibit the sale of vapor products by La.-permitted manufacturers and La.-
permitted wholesalers directly to La. consumers.
3. Prohibit a La.-permitted retailer from having a wholesaler permit.
4. Allow a La.-permitted wholesaler to sell or distribute vapor products to a La.-
permitted retailer that is an affiliated entity of the wholesaler.
5. Define "affiliated entity".
Page 4 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.