On Tuesday, the Alabama Senate passed a bill that would ban the use of e-cigarettes in public buildings.

The Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act already bans cigarettes, pipes and other smoking methods in public places like schools, police stations, city halls and courthouses. This bill would expand that ban to include e-cigarettes and other vaping delivery systems.

SB37 is being proposed by Alabama State Senator Gerald Allen (R-Northport).

“Current law, the Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act prohibits the smoking of tobacco products in most public places and public gatherings,” said Senator Allen. “This bill would ban the smoking of electronic nicotine delivery systems in the same way that smoking tobacco products is prohibited.”

“I was watching a high school football game with my grandson and a young man was vaping,” Sen. Allen said. “That's where this bill came from. Our school principals and superintendents have a huge problem with youth vaping.”

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The bill passed by a vote of 26 to 4, but was later sent back for reconsideration.

Sen. Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills) called for the bill's name to be changed to honor Sen. Vivian Figures (D-Mobile), who spearheaded the Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act, a bill that would ban smoking in public places.

“I think this is a very valuable amendment,” Waggoner said. “She's been working tirelessly on this amendment for years.”

The Waggoner amendment passed 32-0.

“I just want to thank you,” Senator Figures said. “I think Senators Waggoner and Smitherman were the only ones here when I started this bill. It took us six years to pass the Clean Indoors Act.”

“I want to say it's important to me that all Alabamians have the right to breathe clean air,” Figures said. “The late Sen. Jack Biddle tried many times to name it in my honor, but it didn't work out.”

Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Platteville) said he suffered serious health problems at age 23 because he worked in an office with a lot of smokers. Chambliss thanked Figures for his work.

“Thank you for this honor,” Figures said. “It means a lot to me.”

SB37, as amended, passed 32-0.

According to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine, smoking rates in the United States peaked in the mid-1960s and have since fallen to historic lows. E-cigarette use has recently skyrocketed, especially among young people. In 2019, more than 27% of high school students reported using e-cigarettes in the past month, compared with about 6% who reported using combustible cigarettes.

E-cigarettes are generally considered less harmful than traditional combusted cigarettes because they vaporize liquid rather than burn tobacco. The long-term health effects of inhaling liquid flavor chemicals and nicotine are unknown. However, lung damage associated with inhaling cannabinoid oil vapor is becoming a serious public health concern. These complications have raised concerns about e-cigarettes.

SB37 is currently being considered in the Alabama House of Representatives.

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