New State Laws Go into Effect, Including Ban on Unauthorized Vapes
Yesterday, on July 1st, 2025, several new state laws went into effect; most of these laws received wide bipartisan support.
Here is what you need to know about the new laws in effect:
House Bill 900 prohibits the sale of vape and other tobacco products not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, with a particular focus on reducing the sale of unsafe products to minors. The law effectively creates a registry of safe vaping and tobacco products that they can sell, reducing risk to consumers in North Carolina.
Richard Marianos, Tobacco Law Enforcement Executive Director, said, “Today is an important day for the health and safety of North Carolina. The launch of the vape product directory, passed into law last year, is a major win in the fight against illicit Chinese vapes. By making it crystal clear which products are authorized for sale, the state is helping consumers access less harmful alternatives and giving law enforcement and retailers a powerful tool to protect our communities.
House Bill 971: This legislation creates a human trafficking awareness training campaign for lodging establishments and vacation rentals to increase vigilance on human trafficking concerns. The legislation also increases the penalty for the first offense of soliciting another for prostitution. Finally, the legislation bans the viewing of pornography on government computer networks and creates other programs to crack down on human trafficking throughout state government.
Last May, Labor Commissioner Luke Farley launched a Human Trafficking Awareness training for lodging establishments and vacation rentals. This move allows businesses across the state to complete the training ahead of the law’s implementation. “We all have a part to play in the fight against human trafficking,” said Labor Commissioner Luke Farley. “These new requirements empower hospitality workers with the knowledge and tools to recognize the signs of trafficking and respond responsibly. Together, we’re making North Carolina a safer place for everyone.”
House Bill 506: State Investment Modernization Act. The legislation transfers investment authority from the State Treasurer to a Council of advisors and makes other various changes to update how North Carolina invests state funds, like the pension plan.
The Office of State Treasurer commented on the legislation saying, “It’s law. Treasurer Briner’s effort to modernize and improve NC’s investment strategy was signed into law today at a ceremony this morning with Gov. Josh Stein. This is a big step forward for maximizing tax-payer dollars. North Carolinians deserve to know that their pension fund is working as hard for them as they worked for their state. I am honored this was not only a top priority of mine— but that leaders on both sides of the aisle share our vision. NC was one of only three states with a sole fiduciary, conferring decision-making authority onto the treasurer. Briner made restructuring of the portfolio’s management in a board of directors a key priority for his administration, even though it scales back his power.”
