Assembly Approves Measure Raising Smoking Age To 21
The tobacco bills, which also include restrictions on electronic cigarettes, will go back to the Senate before heading to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk.
The San Francisco Chronicle:
Tobacco Smackdown On State Agenda; Law Would Boost Smoking Age
The Democratic-controlled state Assembly approved six tobacco-control bills Thursday, including legislation that would increase the minimum smoking age in California to 21 from 18. Despite the objections of Republicans, who called many of the measures government overreach, the tobacco bills now head to the state Senate, which is expected to approve the legislation next week and send it to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature. (Gutierrez, 3/3)
Capital Public Radio:
California Assembly Passes New Tobacco Fees, Restrictions, Higher Min. Age
Republicans attempted to block the votes, arguing they fell outside the session’s purpose. “This is an abuse of the process, and it makes a mockery of the state Assembly," said Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen, a Modesto Republican. "So I will be abstaining from this vote, and I urge others to do the same.” The bills raise fees on nicotine products, ban them in charter schools, further restrict them in offices and allow new county taxes. Another bill applies tobacco restrictions to e-cigarettes. (Bradford, 3/3)
The Sacramento Bee:
California Advances Bills To Raise Smoking Age, Regulate Vaping
The votes to advance the two measures marked a major victory for public health advocates who previously failed to push the policies through and have struggled to overcome the tobacco industry’s influence in Sacramento. Without directly naming tobacco companies, Assemblyman Jim Wood, D-Healdsburg, said the bill was “aggressively lobbied by entities” who did not publicly register their opposition. (White, 3/3)
The Wall Street Journal:
California Lawmakers Approve Bill To Raise Tobacco-Purchase Age To 21
Lawmakers in other states including Massachusetts and Illinois are considering similar legislation after Hawaii became the first state to do so last year, following cities like New York City, Boston, Kansas City, Mo., and Evanston, Ill. (Mickle and Lazo, 3/3)
The Associated Press:
Bill Would Make California 2nd State With Smoking Age Of 21
[The move] comes days after San Francisco officials voted to increase the legal age to buy tobacco products to 21, making it the second-largest city after New York City to do so. Several other California jurisdictions, including the city of Healdsburg and Santa Clara County, have also raised their smoking ages. Some of those jurisdictions have faced threats of lawsuits from tobacco sellers who say the statewide age of 18 trumps local ordinances that set it higher. (Cooper, 3/3)