Ohio House Rejects Flavor Ban Bill

Local governments in Ohio will not be allowed to impose flavor bans on nicotine products.

The Ohio House voted to override Governor Mike DeWine’s veto of legislation that would prohibit cities from enacting flavored tobacco bans.

The move marks the latest effort by lawmakers to prevent local governments from regulating flavored tobacco products, including menthol.

The city of Columbus is preparing to ban the sale of flavored tobacco starting next month, while Cincinnati, Dayton, and Cleveland are also considering similar proposals, according to Cincinnati.com.

The vote also highlighted the months-long disagreement between DeWine and legislative leaders on the issue. Veto overrides are rare because they require additional votes in both the House and Senate.

Anti-tobacco groups say such bans are necessary to reduce youth vaping. Officials in the House and Senate argue that the state should have uniform guidelines and say the legislation will protect small businesses.