PHOENIX (AP) - There are two competing tobacco and vaping regulation bills at the Arizona Legislature. The winning legislation may emerge soon.
The Senate last week passed a bill championed by Republican Sen. Heather Carter of Cave Creek that would reclassify vaping products as tobacco and place them under the voter-approved Smoke-Free Arizona Act, which bars indoor tobacco use. Carter's plan is backed by health groups including the American Cancer Society.
A competing proposal from Republican Rep. John Allen would raise the age to buy tobacco or vaping products to 21. But it also contains a clause barring cities and towns from further regulating tobacco or charging licensing fees to retailers. It is backed by the tobacco and vaping industry.
