Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, speaking to the Senate Health Committee on Jan. 21, 2026, in the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Alabama. The Senate passed Allen's bill banning vaping in all indoor public spaces on Thursday. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)
The Alabama Senate passed a bill banning vaping in all indoor public spaces Thursday afternoon.
SB 9, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, passed 31-1, with Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, as the sole “no” vote. Multiple messages seeking comment from Barfoot were left Thursday afternoon.
“It’s worse than cigarettes. It just doesn’t need to be in public places,” Allen said in an interview. “Protecting public health is very important.”
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Current law bans smoking in public places like hospitals, restaurants, laundromats, government buildings and banks. Allen’s bill adds “electronic nicotine delivery system” into the definition of smoking.
“I do think that some enforcement would have to be for like security guards and people in charge of the venue will have to say, ‘You got to leave or put your vape up, or you put your tobacco up,’” Allen said.
According to Dr. Michael Blaha, director of clinical research at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, vaping is harmful to the heart and lungs, and is more addictive than smoking.
The bill moves to the House.
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Author: Anna Barrett