Texas legal age for tobacco could go from 18 to 21 under Senate proposal _ The Texas Tribune7/2/2019 Texas legal age for tobacco could go from 18 to 21 under Senate proposal | The Texas Tribune
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/04/09/texas-legal-age-tobacco-could-go-18-21-under-senate-proposal/1/3
Texas could soon increase the legal age to
buy tobacco, though active military
members might be exempt
Senate Bill 21 passed Tuesday, raising the legal purchasing age for tobacco products
from 18 to 21. But its author amended the legislation to exclude active military from
the age raise.
BY ELIZABETH BYRNE APRIL 9, 2019 6 PM
MENU
XHelp us keep reporters out in the field covering the migrantcrisis.
DONATE NOW
7/2/2019 Texas legal age for tobacco could go from 18 to 21 under Senate proposal | The Texas Tribune
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/04/09/texas-legal-age-tobacco-could-go-18-21-under-senate-proposal/2/3
The Texas Senate has passed Senate Bill 21, which would raise the legal age for most people buying tobacco
products from 18 to 21. Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune
The age of Texans who can legally buy tobacco products could soon rise from 18
to 21 years old — except for active military members.
The Texas Senate on Tuesday passed Senate Bill 21 in a 20-11 vote after state
Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, amended her own legislation to include the
military exemption. State Sen. John Whitmire of Houston was the only Democrat
who voted against the bill.
The bill faced some opposition from Republicans who criticized the age raise
because, they said, it denied the right for young adults who enlist in the military
to choose to use tobacco products, The Dallas Morning News reported Tuesday.
The exception for military members allows Texans who are 18 and older and
serving in the armed forces to purchase tobacco products if they have a valid
military ID.
A companion bill in the lower chamber passed unanimously out of a Texas House
committee last month but did not have the exception for active military. The
author of the House bill, Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, said he would accept an
exemption for active military as it would still keep tobacco products away from
high school students, according to the Dallas newspaper. Zerwas was not
immediately available for comment.
The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Texas 21, a coalition of organizations aiming to raise the tobacco purchase legal
age to 21, released a statement opposing the military exemption after the Senate
amendment. Claudia Rodas, a regional director of Campaign for Tobacco-Free
Kids, said in written statement that the coalition will work with legislators to
understand the need to include the military in the bill. She said the goal is a law
that “protects all young Texans, including those who are willing to die to protect
our country.”
XHelp us keep reporters out in the field covering the migrantcrisis.
DONATE NOW
7/2/2019 Texas legal age for tobacco could go from 18 to 21 under Senate proposal | The Texas Tribune
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/04/09/texas-legal-age-tobacco-could-go-18-21-under-senate-proposal/3/3
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick previously identified SB 21 as one of his priorities this
session.
“Increasing the age to purchase tobacco products in Texas to 21 will not only
improve public health and save countless lives, it will save Texans billions of
dollars in health care costs,” Patrick said in a statement Tuesday.
The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Quality journalism doesn't come free
Perhaps it goes without saying — but producing quality journalism isn't
cheap. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country
are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our
mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we
cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. As a nonprofit
newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events
open to the public. Do you value our journalism? Show us with your support.
YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY
XHelp us keep reporters out in the field covering the migrantcrisis.
DONATE NOW