By Robert Gherke and Addy Baird | The Salt Lake Tribune | Photo by Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune

An attempt by vape shops to repeal a ban on flavored vapes hit a brick wall in the Utah House after the bill was hijacked by representatives wanting to keep the ban in place.

HB432, sponsored by Rep. Matt MacPherson, R-West Valley, would reverse a bill passed last year that banned flavored vapes except for tobacco and menthol flavors pre-approved by the state. The bill would also raise limits on nicotine concentrations from 4% to 5% by weight per container.

Gov. Spencer Cox signed the original ban passed into law last year, but it was halted in December after the Utah Vapor Business Association sued the state.

MacPherson said he wanted to strictly regulate the sale of vape products and resolve the lawsuit, which he said could cost the state $500 million if it continues. “Whether there’s a likelihood that [the association] would win that suit or not, I don’t know,” he said in an interview. “It’s not really a factor we’re considering. We’re just looking at the exposure piece to the state.”

But in a dramatic showdown Tuesday, MacPherson’s bill was taken over by vape opponents — Republicans with the backing of the Utah Eagle Forum and Democrats — to keep the ban in place.

Read the full story on sltrib.com

This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aims to inform readers across the state.