A legislative push to ban vaping in public spaces across Alabama has cleared a major hurdle, with the Senate Committee on Healthcare approving the measure on Wednesday. Sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Cottondale), SB9 seeks to update the state's 2003 Clean Indoor Air Act to explicitly include "electronic nicotine delivery systems" under the definition of smoking.
Key Takeaways
- The Expansion: The bill adds vaping to the list of prohibited activities in enclosed public spaces like restaurants, malls, and government buildings.
- The Penalty: Violators caught vaping in restricted areas would face a $25 fine.
- The Origin: Sen. Allen was inspired to act after encountering vapers at high school and college football games.
- The Rename: The act would be renamed the Vivian Davis Figures Clean Indoor Air Act to honor the senator who passed the original law.
Closing the "Indoor Air" Loophole
The legislative intent reveals a move to modernize Alabama's health codes. The original 2003 law banned combustible tobacco in most public venues but predated the rise of e-cigarettes. Sen. Allen's bill aims to close this gap. While a National Library of Medicine study notes that secondhand vape aerosol is less toxic than tobacco smoke, it still exposes non-users to nicotine. If passed by the full Senate, Alabama will join a growing list of states treating vaping exactly like smoking in the eyes of the law.
Will I get fined for vaping in Alabama?
If SB9 passes the full Senate and House, yes. Vaping in any enclosed public space (malls, banks, airports) will carry the same $25 fine as smoking a cigarette.
Tech Reviewer & Vape Enthusiast
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