A bill seeking to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products in New Hampshire is scheduled to get its first committee hearing today.
S.B. 545, which was introduced by Sen. David Waters, D-Dover, and Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, is scheduled for a hearing by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee at 2:15 pm today. It has already garnered five cosponsors, with a split of three Republicans and two Democrats.
The bill is fairly straightforward; other than a few changes to existing language in laws on the books, the bill seeks to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products as well as alternative nicotine delivery products such as e-cigarettes from 18 to 21-years-old.
If passed, the increase would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019.
Five states have made 21 the minimum age to purchase tobacco products so far: Hawaii, California, Maine, New Jersey and Oregon. Several states currently have legislation seeking that same increase under consideration, including Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Washington and West Virginia. A proposal has also been introduced at the federal level.