House passes bill to raise age limit for tobacco sales

Washington state becomes one step closer to increasing tobacco sales age; House of Representatives pass bill to raise tobacco sales from 18 to 21

By Madeline Coats Washington Newspaper Publishers Association • February 23, 2019 1:30 am

OLYMPIA — A proposed law to raise the minimum age of vapor and tobacco sales from 18 to 21 was passed in a 66-30 vote by the House of Representatives on Wednesday in Washington.

House Bill 1074 was introduced by House Minority Leader Paul Harris (R-Vancouver) and requested by State Attorney General Bob Ferguson and the Department of Health. The legislation was co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of 28 other representatives.

The law would prohibit the selling or purchasing of tobacco or vapor products by any person under the age of 21. Raising the age aims to decrease the number of eligible buyers in high school and limit access of students to tobacco products, the bill states.

According to the legislation, six states and more than 350 cities and counties in 21 states have raised the minimum age to 21 years old.

The companion bill, Senate Bill 5057, is under consideration in the Senate.