04/01/2025 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 24                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An   Act  relating   to  tobacco,   tobacco  products,                                                                    
     electronic  smoking  products, nicotine,  and  products                                                                    
     containing  nicotine;   raising  the  minimum   age  to                                                                    
     purchase,  exchange,  or  possess  tobacco,  a  product                                                                    
     containing nicotine, or  an electronic smoking product;                                                                    
     relating  to the  tobacco use  education and  cessation                                                                    
     fund; relating  to the  taxation of  electronic smoking                                                                    
     products  and  vapor  products; and  providing  for  an                                                                    
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:58:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GARY  STEVENS, SPONSOR,  introduced himself  and the                                                                    
bill. He                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:01:31 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
TIM  LAMKIN,  STAFF,  SENATOR GARY  STEVENS,  explained  the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:05:04 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MIKE  BRIDGES, COMMUNITY  ADVOCATE, AMERICAN  CANCER SOCIETY                                                                    
AND    RETIRED    BRIGADIER    GENERAL,    ANCHORAGE    (via                                                                    
teleconference), spoke in support  and detailed the benefits                                                                    
of the bill.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:08:38 AM                                                                                                                   
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:09:09 AM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:09:17 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DR.  ROB CRANE,  BOARD CHAIR,  PREVENTING TOBACCO  ADDICTION                                                                    
FOUNDATION, testified on the bill.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:16:27 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl wondered  when Dr.  Crane had  left the  Ohio                                                                    
State University College of Medicine.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Dr. Crane replied that it was three years prior.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:17:11 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
TREVOR  STORRS,  PRESIDENT   AND  CHIEF  EXECUTIVE  OFFICER,                                                                    
ALASKA  CHILDREN'S  TRUST, ANCHORAGE  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
spoke to the bill.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman OPENED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:20:10 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REBECCA COLE,  SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference),  spoke in                                                                    
support of the bill.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:21:39 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
VALERIA  DELGADO,  SELF,   ANCHORAGE  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
testified in support of the legislation.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:23:36 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MARK  SUNDQUIST,  OWNER,  HILLSIDE  AND  SOUTHSIDE  CHEVRON,                                                                    
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke against the bill.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:27:17 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ALEX   MCDONALD,  SELF,   FAIRBANKS  (via   teleconference),                                                                    
testified against the legislation.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:30:26 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
BEVERLY WOOLEY,  SELF, BIG LAKE (via  teleconference), spoke                                                                    
in support of the bill.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:32:47 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SHAUN   D'SYLVA,   OWNER,   FATBOY  VAPORS,   SEATTLE   (via                                                                    
teleconference), testified against the bill.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:35:39 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
AARON  OSTERBACK,  SELF,   ANCHORAGE  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
testified in support of the legislation.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:38:23 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CARRIE NYSSEN,  SENIOR DIRECTOR  OF ADVOCACY,  AMERICAN LUNG                                                                    
ASSOCIATION,  VANCOUVER,  WASHINGTON  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
spoke in support of the bill.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
10:40:39 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ANNETTE  VROLYK,  SELF,  EAGLE RIVER  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
spoke in opposition to the bill.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:42:25 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SCOTT  MCCUMBY,   VALDEZ  POLICE  DEPARTMENT,   VALDEZ  (via                                                                    
teleconference), testified in support of the legislation.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:44:20 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DON   ENSLOW,   VOLUNTEER,   PROVIDENCE   ALASKA   HOSPITAL,                                                                    
ANCHORAGE  (via teleconference),  spoke  in  support of  the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:46:01 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
TABITHA  KARPOW,   SELF,  ANCHORAGE   (via  teleconference),                                                                    
testified in support of the bill.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:47:57 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
KEN  GRIFFIN,  SELF,  WASILLA  (via  teleconference),  spoke                                                                    
against the bill.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:50:10 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:50:19 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman reviewed the fiscal notes.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:52:00 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens  thanked the committee. He  acknowledged the                                                                    
issues that were facing the committee.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  set an  amendment  deadline  for all  the                                                                    
bills heard on Friday, April  11. He discussed the following                                                                    
day's agenda.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SB  24  was   HEARD  and  HELD  in   committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.