After the Kentucky House of Representatives approved a bill that will raise the state’s minimum age tobacco and nicotine purchasing and possession age to 21-years-old, it now heads to the desk of Gov. Andy Beshear for his signature in order to become law.
The House of Representatives passed S.B. 56 by a vote of 64-20 this week, with the state Senate passing by by a 28-10 vote in January. The bill brings the state into compliance with a federal age increase signed into law in December, while also making changes to definitions in the law regarding tobacco products and vapor products. It also gives law enforcement and other enforcement agencies to confiscate any tobacco or nicotine products found to be in the possession of a person under 21, while removing any penalties levied on such a person.
The bill was delivered to the governor on March 19 and currently awaits his signature. Since the bill had an emergency clause added to it during the legislative process, it would go into effect immediately upon receiving the governor’s signature.