Public health outlines legislative priorities: ignition interlock, alcohol tax, vape rules

The public health director outlined legislative priorities the department expects to pursue or monitor during the upcoming session. She said the group is co-chairing a work group on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs and listed potential bills that would strengthen ignition-interlock requirements for repeat DUI offenders, revisit alcohol excise taxes not updated since 1967, and establish minimum standards for responsible beverage server training.

On tobacco and vaping, the director said Representative Murphy advanced language at the special session targeting illegal vapes and restricting authorized flavors; she noted the proposed penalties discussed at the time included steep fines for selling non-FDA-authorized products. The director said staff will continue legislative engagement and may request formal positions and testimony from the board as bills move forward.