26RS SB 245

Senate Bill 245

Actions

Last Action	02/25/26: to Committee on Committees (S)
Title	AN ACT relating to tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product licensure and declaring an emergency.
Bill Documents	Introduced
Bill Request Number	1780
Sponsors	R. Webb, J. Higdon
Summary of Original Version	Create a new section of KRS 438.305 to 438.350 to establish application form requirements for a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; prohibit the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control from establishing any additional licensure requirements beyond those prescribed in statute; require the department to publish and maintain on its website the components required for a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; amend various sections of KRS 438.305 to 438.350 to require the Secretary of State to notify retailers that a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license is required to sell authorized nicotine vapor products; establish application requirements for a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; require the department to publish the application form on its website within 30 days of the effective date of this Act; require the licensing fee to be refunded to the applicant if a license is not issued; require a licensure renewal form and a licensing fee to be remitted to the department upon the renewal of a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; define "batch license"; allow a retailer with a license issued by the department under KRS Chapter 243 to renew a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license on the date of its next renewal; allow an applicant or licensee to batch license using a singular application or renewal form; allow a licensee to batch license on the date of its next alcohol licensure renewal or 1 year from the date of issuance of its tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; require an applicant or licensee who chooses to batch license to multiply the licensure fee by the number of locations to be licensed or premises to be renewed; require the department to establish a singular application and renewal form for a batch license; allow the department to require a supplemental form for batch licensing if an alcohol license requires further information; grant a grace period to applicants for any error identified in an application by the department; establish requirements for a change of ownership; establish grounds for denial of an application; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations relating to tobacco, nicotine, and vapor licensing within 30 days of the effective date of this Act; repeal KRS 438.3065, which establishes transitional licensing; prohibit this Act from delaying enforcement; require any retailer selling tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products in Kentucky that does not currently hold a license to remit the initial application form and licensing fee within 60 days of the effective date of this Act; credit a licensee's 2025 licensing fee to the licensee's upcoming licensing fee payment for 2026; RETROACTIVE, in part, to January 1, 2026; EMERGENCY.
Index Headings of Original Version	Alcoholic Beverages - Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, batch license, tobacco, vapor products Boards And Commissions - Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, batch license, alcohol, tobacco, vapor products Effective Dates, Emergency - Tobacco, vapor products Licensing - Tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products license, requirements Occupations And Professions - Retailers, licensing requirements, tobacco, vapor products Public Safety - Tobacco, vapor products, sales Retroactive Legislation - Tobacco, vapor products, January 1, 2026 Secretary Of State - Tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products license, notification, authorized nicotine vapor product State Agencies - Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, batch license, alcohol, tobacco, vapor products Tobacco - Nicotine, vapor products, sales, licensing Vaping - Retailers, licensing requirements, tobacco, vapor products