'Tobacco Bill 21' Passes House; Awaits Governor's Signature

SALEM, OR — Beginning January 1, 2018, tobacco purchases in Oregon are prohibited for people under the age of 21 — provided Gov. Kate Brown signs the bill passed by Oregon legislators on Thursday.

First introduced in February, 'Tobacco Bill 21' — or Senate Bill 754 — makes illegal the purchase or sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21. Championed by Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-NW Portland/Beaverton), the bill passed the Senate in March by a 19-8 vote. It passed the House on Thursday by a 39-20 vote, with notable local opponents including Rep. Ronald Noble (R-McMinnville), Rep. Jeff Barker (D-Aloha), Rep. Julie Parrish (R-Tualatin/West Linn), and Rep. Jeff Reardon (D-Happy Valley).

Some argued the bill was another step toward too much government oversight, while others said it was just one way to help prevent youth from becoming addicted to nicotine.

In any event, with Brown's approval Oregon will become the third state to officially raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products, joining Hawaii and California as well as nearly 200 other municipalities across the country — including Lane County, which passed its own statute to raise the legal age in March.

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