House Committee Passes Legislation Preventing the Sale of Tobacco and Vaping Products to Minors

COLUMBUS –The House Criminal Justice Committee today passed House Bill 258, legislation that will address the issue of selling tobacco and vaping products to minors, announced State Representative Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton).

The legislation does two things:

1. Increases fines for tobacco retailers that are caught repeatedly selling tobacco products to minors and

2. Makes repeat offenders subject to public nuisance

Carruthers believes that strengthening the penalties for repeat offenders will protect younger Ohioans from using tobacco and vaping products. 

“Tobacco retailers that continuously sell tobacco and vaping products should be penalized for breaking the law,” said Carruthers. “The negligence of some retailers has directly led to an increase in the use of these products by students, and it is only getting worse.”

House Bill 258 awaits a vote on the House floor.