Oregon Bill to Increase Tobacco Age to 21 Passes Senate Committee
An Oregon Senate committee has given approval to legislation that would raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco and tobacco products to 21.
Senate Bill 754 was passed by the Senate Healthcare Committee with a close 3 to 2 vote, sending it towards a full Senate vote. The measure was filed by a bipartisan coalition of nine senators and state representatives.
The proposed law “Increases from 18 to 21 years old the minimum age to purchase tobacco and nicotine products.” It would establish “a set of fines ranging from $250-$1,000 for individuals or businesses that distribute or sell tobacco-related products or inhalant delivery systems to persons under 21 years of age.”
In addition, the measure “Modifies statutory definition of cigarettes to include inhalant devices and products not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration”, and “Expands the types of facilities not permitted to allow a person under 21 years of age to possess tobacco or inhalant delivery systems when on facility grounds to include colleges, community colleges, universities, career schools and technical education schools.”
Click here for the full text of Senate Bill 754.
