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SB0976 • 2026

Tobacco, Tobacco Products

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 1; Title 4; Title 39; Title 43; Title 47; Title 49; Title 62; Title 63; Title 67 and Title 68, relative to tobacco and tobacco-derived products.

Agriculture
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Southerland, Jones R
Last action
2025-02-12
Official status
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the actions that should be taken based on the study's findings or when the study will start.

Tennessee Act on Tobacco Products

This bill amends Tennessee laws to include smokeless nicotine products and other alternative nicotine products in existing tobacco regulations.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends the definition of regulated tobacco products to include smokeless nicotine products and other alternative nicotine products.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who sell or distribute smokeless nicotine products and other alternative nicotine products.
  • The Tennessee Department of Agriculture, which will study and make recommendations about these products.

Terms To Know

Smokeless Nicotine Products
Products that deliver nicotine without smoking, such as e-cigarettes or vaping devices.
Alternative Nicotine Products
Other products besides traditional tobacco that provide nicotine, like lozenges or patches.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what actions should be taken based on the study's findings.
  • It is unclear how soon after becoming law the Department of Agriculture will start its study.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

  2. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  3. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  4. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  5. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  6. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 168
By Jones R

SENATE BILL 976
By Southerland

SB0976
000948
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 1;
Title 4; Title 39; Title 43; Title 47; Title 49; Title 62;
Title 63; Title 67 and Title 68, relative to tobacco
and tobacco-derived products.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1513, is amended by deleting
the language "vapor products" and substituting instead "vapor products, smokeless nicotine
products, and other alternative nicotine products".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.