Conference committee compromises on e-cigarette regulations

Publication Date: 2014-05-14

• Author:Abby Simons
• Publication:startribune.com

A revamped bill to limit the use of e-cigarettes--commonly known as "vaping"--bans their use in several, but not all public indoor spaces as part of a compromise between the House and Senate.

A conference committee hashed out the details of the ban, which is part of the Health and Human Services Omnibus bill. Earlier versions passed by wide margins in both bodies. However, while a stricter Senate version placed e-cigarettes under the Clean Indoor Air Act, which bans their use in all public places, a House version narrowed the ban to state buildings and public schools.

The bill's House sponsor, Rep. Laurie Halverson, said that the Senate provision was removed in hopes of garnering enough votes to pass the bill. House leaders reiterated Tuesday that they lacked the support to pass the bill with the Senate language...