A bill aimed at banning the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors has cleared a Kentucky Senate panel.
The measure is sponsored by Republican Sen. Paul Hornback, a Shelby County tobacco farmer. He says e-cigarettes are adult products and youngsters should not have access to them.
The bill was approved Thursday by the Senate Judiciary Committee. It now goes to the full Senate. A similar House bill has been introduced.
Gov. Steve Beshear has urged lawmakers to take action to keep e-cigarettes away from minors. He has also proposed a tax on e-cigarettes. Hornback's bill doesn't deal with the tax issue.
E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices resembling traditional cigarettes. They heat a liquid solution, creating vapor that users inhale to get nicotine without the smoke of regular cigarettes.