Ninety-five percent of adults begin smoking before they turn 21. And the ages between 18 to 21 are a critical period when many smokers move from experimental smoking to regular, daily use. The House just passed a bill that will raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products, including vaping products from 18 to 21 years old.
The vote was 25-16. Two amendments to the bill failed, which means that the bill is now on its way to the Governor’s desk for his signature, and I believe Governor Carney has indicated that he will sign it.
The vote unfortunately broke down along party lines, with all Republicans in the House voting no, and with all but one Democrat voting yes.
WHERE IS THE BILL NOW? House Health & Human Development 3/20/19
DEMOCRATIC SPONSORS — Townsend, Minor-Brown, Griffith, Longhurst, Hansen, Lockman, Poore, Baumbach, Bentz, Bolden, Brady, Chukwuocha, Seigfried
REPUBLICAN SPONSORS — Delcollo, Cloutier
YES VOTES – Baumbach, Bennett, Bentz, Bolden, Brady, Brown, Bush, Chukwuocha, Cloutier, Cooke, Delcollo, Dorsey Walker, Griffith, Hansen, Heffernan, Jaques, K.Johnson, K.Williams, Kowalko, Longhurst, Lynn, Lockman, Lopez, McBride, McDowell, Matthews, Minor-Brown, Mitchell, Osienski, Paradee, Poore, Q.Johsnon, Schwartzkopf, Seigfried, Sokola, Sturgeon, Townsend, Viola, Walsh
NO VOTES – Bonini, Briggs King, Carson, Collins, D.Short, Dukes, Ennis, Gray, Hensley, Hocker, M.Smith, Morris, Pettyjohn, Postles, Ramone, Richardson, Shupe, Smyk, Spiegelman, Vanderwende, Wilson, Yearick
ABSENT – Lawson
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