Criminal Offenses

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about enforcement mechanisms or expected outcomes such as increased prosecutions.

Tennessee Law Changes for Selling Vapor Products to Minors

This bill changes Tennessee law by increasing the maximum fine from $50 to $500 for selling vapor products to people under 21 years old.

What This Bill Does

• Increases the maximum fine from $50 to $500 for selling a vapor product to someone who is not yet 21 years old.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who sell vapor products
• Minors under the age of 21

Terms To Know

Class C misdemeanor

A minor crime that can result in a fine or up to 30 days in jail.

Vapor product

An electronic device used to heat and vaporize liquid nicotine for inhalation, often called an e-cigarette.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not change penalties for other tobacco-related offenses besides selling vapor products to minors.
• It is unclear how this law will be enforced or if it will lead to more prosecutions.

Official Summary Text

Present law provides that a person commits a Class C
misdemeanor, punishable by a sentence of imprisonment not greater than 30 days or a fine not to exceed $50, or both, for a violation of any of the following:



The unlawful selling or distribution of any tobacco or hemp products to underage persons.



Not posting the required postings relative to the prohibition of the sale of tobacco and hemp products to persons underage.



The unlawful selling of tobacco or hemp products through a vending machine not in the allowed location.



Not selling tobacco products in the original sealed package in which they were placed by the manufacturer that bears the health warning required by federal law.

This bill adds that it is also a Class C misdemeanor,
punishable by a sentence of imprisonment not greater than 30 days or a
fine not to exceed $50
0, for a person
who sells a vapor product to another person who
is not
21 in violation of
the
unlawful selling or distribution of any tobacco or hemp products to underage persons
.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1102
By Campbell

HOUSE BILL 1059
By Mitchell

HB1059
003204
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
Chapter 17, relative to criminal offenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1510, is amended by deleting
the section and substituting:
(a) A person who sells a vapor product to another person who has not attained
twenty-one (21) years of age in violation of § 39-17-1504(a) commits a Class C
misdemeanor and, notwithstanding § 40-35-111, shall be punished by a maximum fine
of five hundred dollars ($500).
(b) A person commits a Class C misdemeanor who violates:
(1) § 39-17-1504, other than selling a vapor product to another person
who has not attained twenty-one (21) years of age;
(2) § 39-17-1506;
(3) § 39-17-1507; or
(4) § 39-17-1508.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to any offense committed on or after that date.