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SB 1000WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

West Virginia requires licenses for vape and smoke shops, imposes $1,200 annual fees, and restricts marketing with youth-oriented imagery

Original title: Regulating vape and smoke shop retailers

Last action · March 5, 2026: To House Health and Human ResourcesSponsors: Patricia Rucker and 3 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia Senate Bill 1000 establishes licensing requirements, annual fees, and strict operational rules for vape and smoke shop retailers in the state. The measure prohibits the sale of s featuring candy-like names or cartoon imagery, sets a minimum distance of 300 feet from schools and churches, and bans using vape shops as residences.

Why it matters

Retailers must pay an annual $1,200 license fee, submit to background checks, and remove flavored or cartoon-branded s from shelves by March 1, 2027, or face civil and criminal penalties.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Vape and smoke shop retailers

Retailers must obtain a state license, pay a $1,200 annual fee, submit to background checks, comply with location and exterior signage limits, and remove non-compliant vapor products from inventory.

Directly affected

Vapor product manufacturers

Manufacturers must alter packaging and product marketing to remove candy names, cartoon characters, and youth-oriented imagery by March 1, 2027, and appoint a registered agent for service of process.

Directly affected

Minors under 21 years of age

Minors are prohibited from purchasing or being furnished with any vapor products, and marketing directed at underage persons is restricted.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the annual fee to operate a vape or smoke shop under this bill?
The annual license fee is $1,200, with half-year proration available for licenses issued after January 1.
How far must a vape or smoke retailer be located from a school or church?
Retailers must be located at least 300 feet from any church, school, or daycare center, measured by a straight line from the entrance to the property line.
What marketing practices are prohibited for vapor products starting in 2027?
Starting March 1, 2027, manufacturers and retailers cannot sell s that use candy names, cartoon characters, or packaging that mimics youth-oriented brands like breakfast cereals or school supplies.
Can a vape or smoke shop also be used as a residence?
No person may use or occupy a vape or smoke shop as a residence or dwelling place, and doing so is grounds for immediate suspension of operations.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the Senate · in House committee.

Procedural history

19 actions
  1. Mar 5, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Health and Human Resources
  2. Mar 5, 2026HouseCommittee
    To Health and Human Resources
  3. Mar 5, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Introduced in House
  4. Mar 5, 2026House
    House received Senate message
  5. Mar 3, 2026Senate
    Ordered to House
  6. Mar 3, 2026Senate
    Helton title amendment adopted
Show 13 earlier actions
  1. Mar 3, 2026SenateFloor
    Passed Senate (Roll No. 300)
  2. Mar 3, 2026Senate
    Rucker amendment adopted (Voice vote)
  3. Mar 3, 2026Senate
    Read 3rd time
  4. Mar 3, 2026Senate
    On 3rd reading with right to amend
  5. Mar 2, 2026Senate
    Read 2nd time
  6. Mar 2, 2026Senate
    On 2nd reading
  7. Feb 27, 2026Senate
    Read 1st time
  8. Feb 27, 2026Senate
    Immediate consideration
  9. Feb 27, 2026Senate
    Committee substitute reported
  10. Feb 19, 2026SenateCommittee
    To Health and Human Resources
  11. Feb 19, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Introduced in Senate
  12. Feb 19, 2026SenateCommittee
    To Health and Human Resources
  13. Feb 19, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Patricia RuckerSenateRepublicanPrimary sponsor
Brian HeltonSenateRepublicanSponsor
Kevan BartlettSenateRepublicanSponsor
Vince DeedsSenateRepublicanSponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

financial connection100% confidence

License Fee Revenue Split

Fee revenue collected by the commissioner is split equally between the Agricultural Fees Fund and the Alcohol Beverage Control Enforcement Fund.

Agricultural Fees FundAlcohol Beverage Control Enforcement Fund

Connected Entities

Joint Committee on Government and Finance, Agricultural Fees Fund, Alcohol Beverage Control Enforcement Fund and 5 more
OrganizationJoint Committee on Government and Finance“Receives annual enforcement and revenue reports from commissioners.”Map →
OrganizationAgricultural Fees Fund“Receives 50 percent of license fee revenue.”Map →
OrganizationAlcohol Beverage Control Enforcement Fund“Receives 50 percent of license fee revenue.”Map →
OrganizationState Police“Establishes and maintains background investigation systems for applicants.”Map →
OrganizationAlcohol Beverage Control Commissioner“Administers and enforces licensing, fees, and rules under the article.”Map →
locationKanawha County Circuit Court“Jurisdiction for enforcement proceedings involving licensees.”Map →
OrganizationState Tax Commissioner“Collects fees and submits annual reports to the Legislature.”Map →
OrganizationSecretary of State“Registers foreign manufacturers and acts as statutory agent for service of proce”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 80)
  • Controversy65
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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