The Vermont House of Representatives gave its third and final affirmative vote on H. 93 today by a tally of 80-63, with six absent, which seeks to gradually raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco and nicotine delivery products as well as tobacco related accessories from 18 to 21, as well as increase the tax on all tobacco products sold in the state. As is required for a bill to make it out of the House, it must go through three rounds of voting before it can be sent to the state Senate for its approval. Today’s vote was actually the fifth for the bill, as it has gone through several rounds of proposed amendments by the House Ways and Means and Human Services Committees. The bill would first raise the minimum age to 19 years old on Jan. 1, 2017, then 20-years-old on Jan. 1, 2018. On Jan. 1, 2019, the minimum age would then increase to 21-years-old. In addition to making it illegal for a person under 21-years-old to purchase tobacco products, it would also make possession a crime, punishable by a $25 fine, which if unpaid within 60 days would result in a suspension of the individual’s driver’s license ...
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