Other LanguagesSenate hearing scheduled for Monday, Feb. 1
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s agency-request bill to raise the sale age of tobacco and vapor products to 21 today passed the House Health Care & Wellness Committee in a bipartisan 9-3 vote.
“This legislation will literally save lives,” said Ferguson. “I thank legislators from both parties for standing with me to protect Washington youth from a life of addiction and tobacco-related health problems. The momentum for this common-sense reform is building.”
Last week, Ferguson held a press conference, where he was joined by Secretary of Health John Weisman, legislative co-sponsors and numerous other supporters to announce a poll showing two-thirds of Washingtonians support raising the sale age for tobacco and vapor products to 21.
The poll was conducted by Stuart Elway and commissioned by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Video of the press conference is available here.
House Bill 2313, sponsored by Rep. Tina Orwall (D-Des Moines), will now head to the House Finance Committee.
The companion Senate bill, SB 6157, sponsored by Sen. Mark Miloscia (R-Federal Way), is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee on Monday, Feb. 1 at 1:30 p.m.
Voting for the bill were Reps. Eileen Cody (D-Seattle), Judy Clibborn (D-Mercer Island), Richard Debolt (R-Chehalis), Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma), Norm Johnson (R-Yakima), June Robinson (D-Everett), Shelly Short (R-Addy), Steve Tharinger (D-Sequim) and Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim).
Reps. Michelle Caldier (R-Port Orchard), Jim Moeller (D-Vancouver) and Joe Smick (R-Colfax) voted against the bill.
Reps. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane), Paul Harris (R-Vancouver) and Jay Rodne (R-Snoqualmie), were excused.
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The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
Contact:
Peter Lavallee, Communications Director, (360) 586-0725; PeterL@atg.wa.gov