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SB 1225

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, requires all persons who disseminate smoking paraphernalia to display the sign providing notice of the legal age for purchasing such products required by the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco, Smoking Hemp, and Vapor Products Act; removes authorization for a person to substitute a tobacco-related warning sign required by law prior to April 22, 1994. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39 and Title 40.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Paul Rose

Tennessee bill requiring all smoking paraphernalia retailers to display state-mandated legal-age purchase notices, eliminating alternative signage options to standardize youth-access warnings.

Signed by Senate Speaker
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1225

Legislative bill overview

SB 1225 requires all retailers selling smoking paraphernalia to display a state-mandated notice informing customers of the legal age for purchasing tobacco and related products. The bill also eliminates an older provision that allowed businesses to use alternative tobacco-warning signs, instead requiring compliance with current signage standards established under Tennessee's Youth Access to Tobacco Act.

Why is this important

This legislation aims to reduce youth access to tobacco and nicotine products by ensuring consistent, visible age-restriction notices at all points of sale. The change from optional alternative signage to mandatory uniform signage standardizes compliance across retailers and removes a loophole that may have allowed outdated warnings to persist.

Potential points of contention

  • Retailer compliance burden: Small businesses selling smoking paraphernalia may face costs replacing existing signage and operational adjustments to display new notices, particularly those currently using pre-1994 warning signs.
  • Scope ambiguity: The definition of "smoking paraphernalia" disseminators may be unclear—it could affect gas stations, convenience stores, vape shops, and head shops differently depending on interpretation.
  • Enforcement mechanism: The bill doesn't specify penalties or enforcement procedures for non-compliance, creating uncertainty about how violations will be addressed and what consequences retailers face.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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