The proposed bill aims to provide civil immunity to law enforcement officers, school employees, and individuals in positions of authority when they confiscate alternative nicotine products, vapor products, e-liquid products, tobacco products, and cigarette papers from minors on school premises. The bill introduces a new section to the Arkansas Code, specifically defining terms such as "alternative nicotine product," "e-liquid product," "minor," "school," "tobacco product," and "vapor product." This section clarifies that a "minor" is defined as anyone under the age of twenty-one and outlines the various contexts in which schools are defined, including public and private institutions and their associated facilities.
Additionally, the bill specifies that the immunity from civil liability does not extend to the confiscation of medical devices or medications, such as asthma inhalers. This legislation is intended to empower school officials and law enforcement to take necessary actions to prevent minors from possessing these products without the fear of legal repercussions. The bill was approved on April 16, 2025.