UPDATE: HB1711 (Tobacco 21+ bill) died on House floor today. Several Representatives spoke for it. Final vote was 41Y 30N 5P. AVAA is grateful this bill stopped at this stage. HB1711 had failed, been amended, then passed through the House Rules Committee before ultimately failing today on the House floor. Legislation that lumps vapor products and other harm reduction products with traditional tobacco is very bad for Arkansans. Great job to all those that opposed this legislation.
AVAA Officers Elected
Arkansas Vape Advocacy Alliance announces the election of officer positions today, 3/16/17. A majority vote by the 7 board members elected:
- President – Topher Kent of Rogue Vapers
- Vice President – Troy Meuret of Rogue Vapers
- Secretary – Scout Stubbs of Drippers Vape Shop
- Treasurer – Laura LaBanca of Vapor-Riffic
Today is one of many first steps in fighting burdensome regulations on the vapor industry and negative misinformation by the media. AVAA continues to update members on upcoming events and news concerning the vapor industry in Arkansas.
Inaugural Meeting Success
Thank you to everyone that came out in support and solidarity last night at Arkansas Vape Advocacy Alliance’s first meeting on 3/15/17. Your help and interest is greatly appreciated as we move forward! In case you couldn’t make it, or just need a recap of last night’s events, below you will find information covered.
Last night’s meeting covered our immediate needs:
- Creation of a Board of Directors:
- Topher Kent
- Scout Stubbs
- Joshua Willingham (Willy)
- Quinton Alexander Cohen
- Laura LaBanca
- Troy Meuret
- BJ Davis
- Overview of recent legislation fought this session at the State Capitol
- HB1711 (T21 legistlation)
- SB285 (Amending the Clean Indoor Air Act to include vapor)
- Discussion and consideration of VTA Membership
- Price Tag of $10,000
- Benefits include:
- Support from national organization
- VTA assists in selecting a lobbyist (not funding)
- Access to tested public affairs strategies
- Guidance and “heads up” on upcoming legislation
- Access to VTA’s vapor defense database
- Access to VTA’s Policy Action Center for reaching decision makers
- Analysis of bills in our state from VTA’s team of experts
- “Pre-session” planning
- All members of AVAA are automatically VTA members
- Frequent webinars
- Discussion of the need for a lobbyist
- Bringing in membership from far-reaches of the state; they can contribute and stay informed
- Consumer membership (no minimum membership fee) and industry membership tiered pricing
- AVAA shows up to support municipalities when needed
- AVAA supports shops that support them
- AVAA logos for member stores
- Campaign to “support the shops that support your right to vape”
- Design and print other merch ex: t-shirts
Our next steps are for the board of directors to elect officers, which will happen Thursday 3/16. After our core officers are elected, Articles of Organization can be filed for our 501c. After our license is official within the state of Arkansas, donations can be accepted through our website arkansasvaa.org.
Defeat of HB1711
Today marked another small victory for the vapers in the state of Arkansas. HB1711 (T21 legislation), which outlawed tobacco products for anyone under the age of 21, was defeated in the House Rules Committee. The bill lumped traditonal tobacco products with less harmful and life-saving vapor technology, the very thing that the AVAA strives to combat on all fronts. Three representatives for AVAA testified against the bill, while two from the health department and a concerned citizen testified for. Proponents of the bill argued its health benefits and ability to curb youth smoking rates. Arkansas Vape Advocacy Alliance’s stance is to exclude vapor products from the bill to allow former smokers access to products that can help them quit the deadly habit of smoking. Another opportunity still exists for the bill’s sponsor to attempt to run again, which we anticipate will be met with even larger support.
State Capitol Hearings
State advocacy leaders gathered at the Arkansas State Capitol on Wednesday, March 8 to testify against HB1711 and SB285. So far, SB285 (amending the AR Clean Indoor Air Act to include vapor products) has failed to gather enough votes to pass the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor. It continues to rear its ugly head on each of the Committee’s daily agendas, so leaders continue to show up. It still has the ability to pass with only 5 “yes” votes. HB1711 (raising the age to purchase tobacco and vapor products to 21) has yet to be heard, and will likely be scheduled again on their next meeting date, Wednesday, March 15.
Vote No! Arkansas HB1711
Proposals to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products have been in the works for ten years. Advocates of Tobacco 21 (T21) claim these laws will significantly reduce smoking initiation for young people. However, these laws also ban the sale of vapor products to anyone under 21. HB1711 is Arkansas’ T21 bill in the 2017 session. Only two other states have adopted T21 legislation – California and Hawaii. Advocates of T21 legislation strive for the eventual elimination of tobacco and nicotine products. They promote the view that all tobacco and vapor products, in spite of considerable evidence to the contrary, are equally harmful. T21 legislation, which treats all tobacco and vapor products equally under the law, sends an erroneous message to consumers that vapor products pose risks equivalent to traditional cigarettes. It treats young adults, who are capable enough to serve in the military, sign contracts, and elect decision-makers to public office, as incapable of making the distinction between risky and less risky behavior. T21 laws represent a prohibitionist approach, which in the past has often led to harmful unintended consequences. By including vapor products as a part of T21 legislation, an 18-year-old will be denied access to products that can save him from a lifelong addiction to cigarettes. Arkansas Vape Advocacy Alliance is strongly opposed to this new legislation, and we encourage our members to do everything in their power to influence their representatives to vote against HB1711. More information will be made available when possible.
Arkansas Call to Action: Against SB285
Legislative Research: AR SB285 | 2017 | 91st General Assembly …
[Arkansas SB285], Google Web · Google News. [Arkansas Senate Public Health, Welfare And Labor Committee], Google Web · Google News · FollowTheMoney.
Legislators are attempting to pass SB285, which would classify vaping as smoking in the state of Arkansas as part of the Clean Indoor Air Act. This is a step in the wrong direction! Take action by following the link below to automatically send a message to your representatives: