Advertisement
Advertise with us
sidenav

Ohio Governor Vetoes Preemption Bill; Local Flavor Bans Now Allowed

Advertisement
Advertise with us

Governor Mike DeWine today vetoed HB 513, the bill that would have prevented local Ohio governments from passing tobacco and vaping laws stricter than Ohio state laws. DeWine called a press conference to announce the veto, and used his pulpit to denounce the role of flavored e-cigarettes in the youth vaping “epidemic.”

DeWine also suggested he would support a statewide ban on flavored products, which he has done (unsuccessfully) before. "The easiest way to do this is to have a statewide ban," DeWine said at his press conference. "We'll have uniformity, we'll remove the issue, and we'll also protect kids throughout the state."

The preemption bill was passed on Dec. 15, 2022, in the final days of the 2022 legislative session—soon after the city of Columbus passed an ordinance banning sales of flavored vaping and tobacco products. The state bill would have reversed the Columbus flavor ban and a ban on flavored pre-filled cartridges already in place in Toledo. The Columbus flavor ban will take effect Jan. 1, 2024.

For unknown reasons, the preemption bill was not sent by the Assembly to the governor’s desk until near the end of the year—well after the Dec. 22 adjournment of the legislative session. By waiting to veto until the previous legislature completed business, DeWine may have found a loophole to avoid override by the General Assembly.

DeWine says it’s clear that young people are using flavored tobacco as a gateway to vaping/smoking, citing a study showing 2/3 of kids using tobacco said they do because it comes in flavors they like, including menthol. Dewine says smoking costs the state $1.85 billion annually.

— Karen Kasler (@karenkasler) January 5, 2023

The governor’s office believes a newly seated legislature cannot initiate a veto override of a bill passed in a previous session, according to Ideastream Public Media reporter Karen Kasler.

It isn’t yet known if Republican leadership in the Assembly will pursue an override.

The preemption bill, HB 513, states that “No political subdivision may enact, adopt, renew, maintain, enforce, or continue in existence any charter provision, ordinance, resolution, rule, or other measure that conflicts with or preempts any policy of the state regarding the regulation of tobacco products or alternative nicotine products.”

The bill was opposed by anti-vaping and anti-tobacco groups and public health organizations across the state, who lobbied DeWine for a veto from the moment the bill passed.

Note
Previous versions of this story contained additional detail on confusion surrounding the date of the bill’s receipt by the governor, and speculation about whether he would veto.
Advertisement
Advertise with us
Latest Reviews
Article preview image
Freemax REXA PRO & REXA SMART Review: Too Smart?

The Freemax REXA PRO and REXA SMART are highly advanced pod vapes, offering seemingly endless features, beautiful touchscreens, and new DUOMAX pods.

Wed Jul 30 2025
Article preview image
OXVA XLIM Pro 2 DNA Review: A Match Made in Heaven!

The OXVA XLIM Pro 2 DNA is powered by a custom-made Evolv DNA chipset, offering a Replay function and dry hit protection. Read our review to find out more.

Fri Jul 18 2025
Article preview image
SKE Bar Review: A Reusable Crystal Bar!

The SKE Bar is a 2 mL replaceable pod vape with a 500 mAh battery, a 1.2-ohm mesh coil, and 35 flavors to choose from in 2% nicotine.

Mon Jul 7 2025
Advertisement
Advertise with us
Latest Learn
vaping taxes
Vaping Taxes in the United States and Around the World

Because of declining cigarette sales, state governments in the U.S. and countries around the world are looking to vapor products as a new source of tax revenue.

Thu Jul 31 2025
How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape?
How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape?

The legal age to buy e-cigarettes and other vaping products varies around the world. The United States recently changed the legal minimum sales age to 21.

Tue Jul 1 2025
Where vaping is banned or restricted
Vape Bans: E-Cigarette Restrictions in the U.S. and Worldwide

A list of vaping product flavor bans and online sales bans in the United States, and sales and possession bans in other countries.

Fri Jul 4 2025
About Authors
Jim McDonald
845 posts

Smokers created vaping for themselves without help from the tobacco industry or anti-tobacco crusaders, and I believe vapers and the vaping industry have the right to continue innovating to give everyone who wants to use nicotine access to safe and attractive non-combustible options. My goal is to provide clear, honest information about vaping and the challenges nicotine consumers face from lawmakers, regulators, and brokers of disinformation. You can find me on Twitter @whycherrywhy

See author’s profile
Vaping360.com strives to be the world's most trusted resource for vapers and smokers. We take pride in our editorial integrity, accuracy, and the honesty of our writers.
Read more about us

Rely on Our Expertise

At Vaping360, we take pride in our deep expertise and years of experience in the vaping industry. Our dedicated team of professionals is committed to leveraging their extensive knowledge to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.

Authenticity

Genuine insights backed by thorough and exhaustive research and testing.

Reliability

Consistent, accurate information from the vaping industry experts.

Empowerment

Transparent and reliable content for confident and informed decision-making.

About us

Our mission is clear: to help people who smoke transition to low-risk alternatives and contribute to a smoke-free world. With each article we publish and each review we conduct, we're working towards this goal.

about-us-banner
product preview