A bill introduced into the Iowa House of Legislature is seeking to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21-years-old. At the opening of the current legislative session on Jan. 13, Senator Herman C. Quirmbach (D-23) filed SF 2016, which would make Iowa one of the first states to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco. Only Hawaii has increased the age so far, while New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoed a similar proposal yesterday. In addition to prohibiting the sale of tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vapor products to those under 21, Quirmbach’s proposal also seeks to make it illegal for someone under 21 to possess or attempt to purchase those products. Beyond Quirmbach’s bill, there is SSB 1109, a carryover from the 2015 legislative session that seeks to raise the minimum age for tobacco products to 19-years-old. It currently sits in the Senate Education Committee. The change would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017, should the proposal be approved.
↧