URGENT!
Up until Tuesday of this week (3/24), SB 987 was a shell bill with no substantive provisions. This all changed when 31 pages of regulations were substituted and rushed through the legislative process. Currently the bill is likely to be heard in the House Rules Committee TOMORROW, Thursday, March 26th at the State Capitol Building (500 Woodlane Street) in Little Rock. We will update our members in AR when we know what time the hearing will take place.
It is our understanding that representatives of the Arkansas vapor industry were misled into believing that SB 978 would not place unnecessary restrictions on retailers or manufacturers. Unfortunately, this bill has moved out of their control and presents several challenges that must be fixed.
If passed, SB 978 would, among other things:
Please take action NOW to oppose this bill!
Please also take a moment to call members of the House Rules Committee and tell them that you oppose this bill:
(Writing Tip #1) If you have a lot to say, please craft your email in a separate word doc and then copy/paste it into the field provided. If you take too long, they system will time out and you will lose your work.
(Writing Tip #2) Although we've provided a prewritten email with compelling talking points, we would strongly encourage you to edit the email because personalized communications to legislators are far more persuasive than form letters. At a minimum, PLEASE INSERT YOUR PERSONAL STORY (just a few sentences) in the text of your email.
Link to Call to Action: CASAA: Arkansas Call to Action: URGENT! Oppose SB 978 which is being rushed through the legislature and could impose damaging regulations on the AR Vapor Industry.
Up until Tuesday of this week (3/24), SB 987 was a shell bill with no substantive provisions. This all changed when 31 pages of regulations were substituted and rushed through the legislative process. Currently the bill is likely to be heard in the House Rules Committee TOMORROW, Thursday, March 26th at the State Capitol Building (500 Woodlane Street) in Little Rock. We will update our members in AR when we know what time the hearing will take place.
- Oppose SB 978 - Send an Email
It is our understanding that representatives of the Arkansas vapor industry were misled into believing that SB 978 would not place unnecessary restrictions on retailers or manufacturers. Unfortunately, this bill has moved out of their control and presents several challenges that must be fixed.
If passed, SB 978 would, among other things:
- Lay the groundwork for future taxation of vapor products
- Impose onerous paperwork requirements on industry
- Require vapor retailers to only purchase their products only through wholesalers licensed by the State of Arkansas
- Impose specific child-resistant packaging requirements that are not in line with existing federal regulation.
- Become effective May 1st, meaning that many retailers will be forced to operate illegally if state bureaucrats are unable to dispense licenses in time.
Please take action NOW to oppose this bill!
- Oppose SB 978 - Send an Email
Please also take a moment to call members of the House Rules Committee and tell them that you oppose this bill:
| AR House Rules Cmte | |
| John T. Vines | 501-624-1252 |
| Andy Davis | 501-837-5109 |
| David L. Branscum | 870-448-2408 |
| Mary Broadaway | 870-236-9800 |
| Les Eaves | 501-827-1344 |
| Jon S. Eubanks | 479-438-0533 |
| Deborah Ferguson | 870-735-7098 |
| Bill Gossage | 479-667-2122 |
| Monte Hodges | 870-281-6878 |
| Kelley Linck | 870-404-2741 |
| Mark Lowery | 501-837-5221 |
| James Ratliff | 501-454-5200 |
| Laurie Rushing | 501-545-6066 |
| James Sturch | 870-612-7589 |
| DeAnn Vaught | 870-832-2638 |
(Writing Tip #1) If you have a lot to say, please craft your email in a separate word doc and then copy/paste it into the field provided. If you take too long, they system will time out and you will lose your work.
(Writing Tip #2) Although we've provided a prewritten email with compelling talking points, we would strongly encourage you to edit the email because personalized communications to legislators are far more persuasive than form letters. At a minimum, PLEASE INSERT YOUR PERSONAL STORY (just a few sentences) in the text of your email.
Link to Call to Action: CASAA: Arkansas Call to Action: URGENT! Oppose SB 978 which is being rushed through the legislature and could impose damaging regulations on the AR Vapor Industry.
