Virginia AG Announces New Vape Enforcement Act

Detected March 26th, 2026

Summary

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones announced the passage of the "Vape Enforcement Act" (HB 308 and SB 620) to combat illegal vape sales in the Commonwealth. The new law aims to close enforcement loopholes, prevent dangerous products from reaching schools, and increase accountability for illegal sales.

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What changed

The Virginia Attorney General's office, in conjunction with state legislators, has announced the passage of the "Vape Enforcement Act" (HB 308 and SB 620). This new legislation is designed to address the proliferation of illegal and unregulated vape products within Virginia, particularly their accessibility to minors and presence in schools. The Act aims to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and close existing loopholes that have allowed for the continued sale of products with unknown ingredients and inconsistent nicotine levels.

This development signifies a shift towards stricter regulation and enforcement of vape sales in Virginia. Retailers selling unregulated vape products, especially those that are not compliant with state laws regarding age restrictions and product content, should anticipate increased scrutiny and potential penalties. The legislation provides the Attorney General's office with enhanced tools to target illegal sales, protect public health, and ensure consumer safety, particularly for young people. While a specific compliance deadline is not detailed, the passage of the Act implies an immediate need for businesses to review their sales practices and product compliance.

What to do next

Review current vape sales practices for compliance with Virginia law.
Ensure all vape products sold are regulated and compliant with state content and age restrictions.
Prepare for potential increased enforcement actions targeting illegal vape sales.

Source document (simplified)

News Releases

Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of the Attorney General

Jay Jones
Attorney General

202 North 9th Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-786-2071
FAX 804-786-1991
Virginia Relay Service
800-828-1120

For media inquiries only, contact:
Rae Pickett
RPickett@oag.state.va.us

VIDEO: Attorney General Jones, Former Senator Ebbin, Senator VanValkenburg, and Delegate Hope Hold Virtual Press Conference on Passage of Vape Enforcement Act
New law closes enforcement loopholes, targets illegal vape sales, and keeps dangerous products out of Virginia schools, and keeps communities safe

Watch the video recording of the event HERE

Richmond, VA. – Attorney General Jay Jones today convened a virtual press conference with former Senator Adam Ebbin, Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, and Delegate Patrick Hope to address the growing crisis of illegal and unregulated vape products in Virginia and to highlight the passage of HB 308 and SB 620, the “Vape Enforcement Act.”

During the press conference, speakers outlined how illegal vape products have spread across the Commonwealth, reaching students in schools and communities with little oversight and few consequences, and detailed how the new law will strengthen enforcement and close long-standing gaps.

“For too long, we’ve known what’s happening in our schools and communities,” said Attorney General Jay Jones. “You can walk into middle schools across the Commonwealth and see it. Teachers are confiscating vapes from bathrooms. Kids are sharing them. At the same time, unregulated products with unknown ingredients have been sitting on store shelves with no enforcement. That is unacceptable.”

Jones emphasized that while Virginia law already prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21, weak enforcement allowed illegal sales to continue and a dangerous market to grow.

“This is a public health issue and a consumer protection issue, and one the bill patrons have been working tirelessly for years to address,” Attorney General Jones continued. “These products are marketed in ways that downplay the harm. They contain inconsistent levels of nicotine. Some contain substances consumers would never expect. And they have been getting into the hands of young people far too easily. The Vape Enforcement Act closes those loopholes and gives us the tools to stop it.”

Speakers also pointed to new data underscoring the scope of the issue. A Virginia Commonwealth University forensic toxicology study of more than 1,300 vape products collected from K-12 schools found that 83 percent contained nicotine, often at inconsistent levels, and some also contained alcohol—demonstrating how widespread and unregulated these products have become.

“I’ve worked with Delegate Hope for years to try to address this,” said former Senator Adam Ebbin. “During that time, we’ve heard from parents, educators, and public health experts who see the damage these products are causing every day. These highly addictive products are often marketed as safer alternatives, but they are doing real harm, especially to children. This legislation puts an end to the sale of unregulated products and ensures they are no longer slipping through the cracks.”

“Rates of youth vaping are at an all-time high, and I hear about it constantly—from parents, from students, and from communities across Virginia,” said Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg. “Teens know where to go to get these products without being carded. Shops have been able to operate without oversight and avoid accountability. That changes now. If you sell these products, you will be licensed, and if you break the law, you will be shut down.”

Delegate Patrick Hope emphasized both the collaborative effort behind the legislation and the enforcement approach moving forward.

“This press conference reflects years of work to close the gaps that allowed these products to proliferate,” said Delegate Patrick Hope. “This law strengthens our enforcement abilities and ensures that unregulated products are not sold and that bad actors are penalized for noncompliance. By empowering the Office of the Attorney General, Virginia ABC, and law enforcement, we now have the ability to investigate, enforce, and remove these products from circulation.”

A recording of the press conference is HERE.