HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania retailers that sell e-cigarettes or flavored nicotine products to minors would face $5,000 fines and ultimately lose their cigarette licenses under legislation the state House unanimously passed last week, sending the proposed enforcement crackdown to the Senate.
The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Amen Brown, D-Philadelphia, would impose a $5,000 penalty for each of a retailer’s first two violations involving sales to minors.
A third offense would result in permanent revocation of the retailer’s cigarette license.
Brown has dubbed the legislation the CLEAR Act and positioned it as a response to youth use of e-cigarettes, including flavored products such as mango, cotton candy and mint.
“Vaping has become a silent epidemic in our schools and neighborhoods,” Brown said. “This is not just a public health issue — it’s a community safety issue.”
The measure would increase the financial and licensing consequences for retailers rather than impose new penalties directly on underage users.
Brown’s office cited federal data showing e-cigarettes remained the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school students in 2024. More than 1.2 million high school students reported using e-cigarettes that year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data cited by the lawmaker.
“If you’re out here profiting off the addiction of our youth, you should not be in business — period,” Brown said.
The legislation now moves to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration.
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