OLYMPIA- The House Healthcare and Wellness Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1054, addressing the age restrictions for usage of tobacco and vape products.

The bill aims to increase the minimum age to buy and use any tobacco or vape product.

“House Bill 1054 prohibits the sale of cigarettes, tobacco and vapor products to persons under the age of 21,” said Committee Staff member Alexa Silver during the public hearing. “It also raises the age to 21 for related provisions.”

Sponsors of the bill asked everyone to look past any financial losses and to focus on the future of youth. Attorney General Bob Ferguson said the bill could save lives.

“Where the impact really takes place is in the future. Please, don’t strictly look at this as something that’s going to impact our financial,” said Primary sponsor Rep. Paul Harris (R) of the 17th District in Vancouver. “Look at how it’s going to protect our youth from here and into the future.”

The legislation was requested by State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who also testified in support of HB 1054 with statistics.

“The CDC estimates that 1 out of 13 kids under the age of 18 will die prematurely from smoking-related causes,” Ferguson said. “To put a very specific figure in Washington state, that’s about 100,000 young people right here in our state and in all of your districts.”

For retailers, the loss of tobacco sales means a loss of other sales said Mark Johnson with the Washington State Retail Association who opposes the bill.

“For these reasons, we are very concerned about what the impacts of HB 1054 will be on the retailers in the state of Washington,” Johnson said.

For more information, find HB 1054 online here.