There will be a push in the Wisconsin Legislature this session to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21-years-old and have the Badger State join a growing list of more than 15 states as well as the District of Columbia to join the Tobacco 21 movement.
The push is being led by Rep. Melissa Sargent, D-Madison, who is one of the supporters of LRB-2839, a bill that would change the state’s existing laws regarding the minimum age to purchase tobacco products and things like e-cigarettes.
It would also raise the minimum age to possess such products to 21-years-old.
“By raising the legal age of selling, purchasing, possessing, and using nicotine and tobacco products, and updating our statutes to include e-cigarettes and vapors, we can deeply reduce the rate of smoking in our state,” Sargent said in a Tweet.
I am proud to co-sponsor LRB-2839, a bipartisan bill which raises the age for tobacco and vapor products to 21, while working to create healthier kids and healthier communities in our state. #t21 @DavidCrowleyWI @RepSpiros @SenMarklein
— Rep. Melissa (@rep_melissa) August 2, 2019
The legislature is scheduled to reconvene for floor sessions beginning on Sept. 17. The bill does not contain a specific date that it would go into effect should it be passed, rather it would go into effect approximately seven months following passage.