Kentuckians would have fewer options when they try to buy a vape or e-cigarettes if a House measure becomes law.

House Bill 11 would limit what brands, gas stations and smoke shops can sell.

As Kentucky Kentucky additions June Lefler reports, retailers say this could close them down.

While child advocacy voices say it's a missed opportunity to enforce underage sales to minors.

A Western Kentucky Republican says many vapes on the market are harmful to adults and are getting in the hands of children.

The majority of it are these flavored disposable vapes that are being manufactured in China and they are illegal in China and they're only being made for sale in the U.S..

Her bill says shops can only sell vape brands that have been cleared or under review by the food and Drug Administration, and that Kentucky will take a larger role in monitoring for compliance.

So the FDA has said once they became the regulatory authority over this in 2016, through Congress's direction, they have set guidelines for what could stay on the market.

We are not making anything illegal.

We are simply following what the FDA has put in place.

Retailers that sell smokeless tobacco products spoke out, and.

I would have to close my stores.

And closing my stores means I fire 50 people here in the state and we simply can't compete.

Having vape stores have the exact same 1520 products as every gas station.

And we have by far vape stores have the lowest number of selling to underage people, as reported by the FDA in 2023.

That didn't sway the Senate Judiciary Committee, which unanimously voted for House Bill 11.

This is an issue about China or children.

Make your decision.

And then lastly, every one of these products was purchased at a vape store.

Here's the card.

But a leading voice for Kentucky's children says this bill falls short due to recent changes that reduce fines for those selling to minors.

In a statement, Kentucky youth advocates wrote, quote, We had hoped to celebrate House Bill 11 as a win for kids this legislative session, but at this point, it looks as if adult special interests are winning the Day for Kentucky edition of June Lefler.

Thank you, June.

At the time, we prepared tonight's broadcast, and now that lawmakers are on dinner, the bill has not passed either chamber, but they very well could when they return to business very shortly.