Criminal Offenses

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on whether the bill retains existing rules regarding fines and punishments for other violations related to tobacco and hemp products.

Tennessee Law Change 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 individuals under the age of 21 and classifying such sales as a Class C misdemeanor.

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.
• Classifies selling a vapor product to an underage person as a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a fine of up to $500, or both.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who sell vapor products
• Underage buyers of vapor products

Terms To Know

Class C misdemeanor

A minor crime that can be punished by a fine or up to 30 days in jail.

Vapor product

An electronic device used to heat and vaporize liquid nicotine or other substances for inhalation.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the new rules will be enforced.
• It is unclear if there are any exceptions to these rules.

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

HOUSE BILL 1059
By Mitchell

SENATE BILL 1102
By Campbell

SB1102
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.