Oregon Close to Making Minimum Tobacco Purchase Age 21 (Update)

After the Oregon House of Representatives approved a bill to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products and alternative nicotine products to 21-years-old, it appears that the state will soon become the third in the country to enact such an increase.

The process isn’t completely done yet, as the Oregon Senate must revote on S.B. 754, as the House amended it to remove a restriction on persons between 18 and 20 years old possessing tobacco and alternative nicotine products. It’s not expected that the change will change the Senate’s vote on the matter, though they must pass it by the end of the session on July 9. The Senate approved the bill on March 23 by a 19-8 vote with three members excused.

Once the Senate approves the revision, the bill can head to the desk of Gov. Kate Brown, who has already indicated her support for the increase and is expected to sign it. Once she does, the increase would go into effect immediately as the bill includes an emergency clause.

If the bill does indeed pass the Senate and get signed by the governor, Oregon would join Hawaii and California as the only states to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21-years-old.

Update (July 7, 2017) — The Senate approved the House’s amendments by a 19-11 vote on Thursday. The bill now heads to Gov. Kate Brown for her signature. This story was originally published on July 6.