Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, listens to debate in the Alabama Senate on Feb. 13, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)
The Alabama Senate Healthcare Committee Wednesday approved on a voice vote a bill that would prohibit vaping in public spaces or meetings.
SB 10, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, would also rename the Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act to the Vivian Davis Figures Clean Indoor Air Act, named after the Democratic senator from Mobile who spearheaded passing the original law in her early legislative career.
“The genesis of the story is that we’re going to require vaping to be ruled and conducted just like tobacco products,” Allen said to the committee.
The legislation was advanced without discussion.
According to a November report, Alabama ranks 10th nationally for lung cancer screening, with 19.4% of those at high risk screened, the state fell short in other areas. Only 25.3% of cases in Alabama were diagnosed early, when survival rates are higher. The rate of surgical treatment, which can be crucial for survival, was among the worst in the country.
Vaping is becoming increasingly popular, with rates of use rising from 3.7% to 4.5% nationwide from 2020 to 2021. That rate is estimated to be significantly higher in Alabama, at 10.3% in 2022, according to the American Lung Association.
Alabamians also smoke tobacco at a significantly higher rate than Americans nationwide, at about 15.6% versus 11.6%, according to the report. Lung cancer death rates for men in Alabama were also higher than the national average. Men in Alabama had a rate of 57 deaths per 100,000, compared to 40.6 nationwide, ranking fifth-highest among states. Women in Alabama had a rate of 31.6 deaths per 100,000, compared to 28.6 nationwide, ranking 17th highest in comparison.
The bill moves to the Senate floor.
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