Illinois House passes Tobacco 21 bill

Cigarettes
It could soon be against the law for people who are 18, 19, or 20 years old to buy tobacco products in Illinois as the House Tuesday approved Tobacco 21 legislation. (Pixabay)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – A bill which then-Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed, Tobacco 21, is back and has passed the House.

And backers may have a teenager to thank, in part.

“My daughter, who is 17, at Lyons Township High School,” said House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), “told me, Dad, it’s out of control. Not just tobacco, but Juuls, e-cigarettes, and all those that go along with it. She said, you guys need to do something, and I said, Caroline, I am doing something. I’m changing my mind, and I will be voting for this bill.”

Arguments against the bill included that it’s an attack on personal liberty and that tactics such as the “war on drugs” did not work.

HB 345 has passed the House, 82-31.  The bill now heads to the Senate for a vote.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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