Kentucky lawmaker proposes directing Juul settlement funds to youth vaping prevention

Key Takeaways

• Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, United States

• Sponsor: Sen. Craig Richardson (R-Hopkinsville)

• Bill: Senate Bill 74

• Settlement amount cited: Kentucky has received more than $14 million from a multistate Juul settlement

• Current status cited: no requirement on how funds must be spent; funds not specifically allocated to youth prevention

• Proposal: create a Vaping Settlement Trust Fund for future Juul proceeds

• Intended use: youth vaping prevention and cessation via the Department for Public Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program

2Firsts, January 14, 2026 – According to FOX 56, a Kentucky lawmaker wants the state to consider using settlement funds received by the Commonwealth from vaping manufacturer Juul Labs to fund youth vaping prevention efforts.

The report says Sen. Craig Richardson, R-Hopkinsville, filed Senate Bill 74. According to the Senate Majority Caucus, Kentucky has received more than $14 million in a multistate settlement related to Juul’s targeted marketing practices aimed at children and young adults. The report adds that the settlement did not include any requirement directing how those funds must be spent.

Officials reportedly said the settlement money has not been specifically allocated to anti-vaping or youth prevention efforts. SB 74 seeks to address that by creating the Vaping Settlement Trust Fund. Under the bill, future settlement proceeds received from Juul Labs would be deposited into the fund and directed exclusively toward youth vaping prevention and cessation initiatives.

The report says funds in the trust would be used solely by the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program within the Department for Public Health to support education, prevention, and cessation efforts aimed at reducing youth nicotine use.

“Kentucky held Juul accountable for its role in the youth vaping crisis, but the settlement itself did not guarantee those dollars would be used to protect kids,” Richardson said. “This bill provides that direction and accountability by ensuring the money is invested where it can do the most good.”

Doug Hogan, government relations director at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, was also quoted as supporting the approach, saying directing future Juul settlement funds to tobacco prevention would help address e-cigarette use and protect middle and high school students from addictive tobacco products.

The report says SB 74 seeks to ensure settlement dollars tied to youth vaping are not used for unrelated spending, but instead are used to educate younger generations about the dangers of smoking.

Photo credit: FOX 56