California Legislature passes bill to ban disposable nicotine vapes; headed to governor

# What passed

California's Legislature approved Assembly Bill 762, which would ban disposable nicotine vape devices if Gov. Gavin Newsom signs the measure into law. The bill sets a phased schedule for restricting these single-use vaping products.

# Key dates and rules in the bill

• The bill defines disposable vapes as vaporization devices that contain a tobacco product and are not designed or intended to be reused. Devices that are refillable or that use separate, replaceable containers for vaporizer liquid and that have rechargeable batteries would still be legal.

# Why lawmakers moved forward

Supporters point to environmental and safety concerns. The California affiliate of the Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) estimates Americans discard almost 500,000 disposable vapes per day. Reporting in the Los Angeles Times cited that these devices can leak toxic substances used to make them and contain microplastics and a range of metals, including cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, lithium, nickel and zinc.

Waste managers also raise operational and financial concerns. Joe La Mariana of the South Bayside Waste Management Authority said, "disposable vapes contain lithium-ion batteries which can't be removed. If struck or crushed, they cause catastrophic fires in garbage trucks and sorting facilities. These costs get passed on to ratepayers." Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, the bill's author, said she hopes the governor will recognize the threat these devices pose to communities and to local budgets.

# What the bill changes about product design and sales

Under the bill, vaporizer devices for tobacco products must be refillable or use separate, replaceable containers for vaporizer liquid, and must have rechargeable batteries to be legal in California. The law targets non-reusable, disposable formats that are designed to be discarded after a short period of use.

# Opposition and context

# Practical implications for consumers and businesses

• Retailers and distributors that sell disposable nicotine vapes would need to stop sales in line with the phased dates if the governor signs the bill.
• Manufacturers and importers would need to stop supplying disposable products into California after the initial implementation date.
• Consumers who use disposable vapes will need to switch to refillable or rechargeable products that meet the law's design tests.

# What happens next

The bill now awaits the governor's decision. If signed, enforcement and the exact administrative rollout will be defined by state agencies and local jurisdictions implementing the new restrictions.

# Bottom line