Ohio Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto, Blocks Local Flavored Vape Bans.
The Ohio Senate voted 24-8 to override Governor Mike DeWine’s veto of a bill preventing local governments from imposing bans or restrictions on flavored tobacco and vaping products beyond the state law. The House previously voted 60-31 for the override.
The new law ends flavor bans recently passed in Columbus and 26 other Ohio municipalities, as well as a restriction on flavored vape pods in Toledo. It marks a legislative victory for consumer access to legal vaping products in the face of Gov. DeWine’s support for flavor bans.
Republicans proposed the preemption legislation last year in response to a wave of municipal flavor bans backed by anti-vaping advocates and health groups. However, lawmakers ultimately sided with adult consumers and small business owners seeking to preserve availability of reduced harm alternatives to smoking.
The bill faced two prior vetoes from Gov. DeWine before finally becoming law. The override comes despite the Governor’s continued calls for a statewide prohibition on flavored vapes, showcasing tensions between public officials weighing regulation against harm reduction.
