Includes menthol as a flavored electronic nicotine-delivery system product.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would change Rhode Island's existing law to specifically include menthol as a "flavor" when it comes to electronic nicotine-delivery system (ENDS) products — things like e-cigarettes, vapes, and similar devices. Under current law, flavored ENDS products may already be subject to special tax rules or restrictions, but menthol may not be clearly listed as a flavor in that category. This bill closes that gap by making it explicit that menthol-flavored vaping products fall under the same rules as other flavored ENDS products.

In practical terms, this means that menthol-flavored e-cigarettes and vaping products would be treated the same as other flavored varieties — such as fruit or candy flavors — for taxation and regulatory purposes in Rhode Island. Retailers who sell these products, manufacturers who distribute them, and consumers who buy them could all be affected, depending on what taxes or restrictions apply to flavored ENDS products under existing state law.

The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was introduced and referred to the Senate Finance Committee, where it is scheduled for a hearing. A planned meeting in March 2026 was postponed, so it has not yet moved forward for a full vote. It remains to be seen whether the bill will advance further through the legislature.