Though the bill “befuddled” at least one lawmaker, the Utah Senate voted 15-12 for a bill that would raise the age for buying tobacco and e-cigarettes from 19 to 21 across the state — except for active duty military members, their spouses and dependents.
The bill, which passed 47-19 in the House earlier this month, will need to return to that chamber since it was amended.
HB324 “phases in a standard that says over the next couple years that you need to be 21 to buy, possess, purchase, use tobacco products,” said Rep. Curtis Bramble, R-Provo, noting that “research shows 95 percent of tobacco users start using tobacco products before the age of 21.