Signed by Governor Tim Walz

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases the legal age to buy tobacco to 21.

Highlights:

• Requires, at each location where tobacco, tobacco-related devices, electronic nicotine delivery devices, or nicotine or lobelia delivery products are sold, the licensee to display a sign in plain view to provide public notice that selling any of these products to a person under 21 years of age is illegal and subject to penalties (Sec. 10).

• Specifies that any person 21 years of age or older who sells, gives, or otherwise furnishes to a person under the age of 21 years a product containing nicotine or lobelia is guilty of a petty misdemeanor for a first violation (Sec. 12).

• Specifies that any person 21 years of age or older who sells, gives, or otherwise furnishes to a person under the age of 21 years a product containing nicotine or lobelia is guilty of a misdemeanor for a subsequent violation within 5 years of a previous conviction (Sec. 12).

• Specifies that a person under the age of 21 years who purchases or attempts to purchase a product containing or delivering nicotine and who uses a driver’s license, permit, Minnesota identification card, or any type of false identification to misrepresent their age, will be subject to a civil penalty (Sec. 12).

• Requires law enforcement and court system representatives to consult with interested persons including parents, guardians, educators, and persons under the age of 21, to develop alternative civil penalties for persons under the age of 21 who violate the above highlight (Sec. 12).

• Specifies that consulting participants should consider a variety of alternative civil penalties including tobacco-free education programs, community service, court diversion programs, and tobacco cessation programs (Sec. 12).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases the legal age to buy tobacco to 21.

Highlights:

• Requires, at each location where tobacco, tobacco-related devices, electronic nicotine delivery devices, or nicotine or lobelia delivery products are sold, the licensee to display a sign in plain view to provide public notice that selling any of these products to a person under 21 years of age is illegal and subject to penalties (Sec. 10).

• Specifies that any person 21 years of age or older who sells, gives, or otherwise furnishes to a person under the age of 21 years a product containing nicotine or lobelia is guilty of a petty misdemeanor for a first violation (Sec. 12).

• Specifies that any person 21 years of age or older who sells, gives, or otherwise furnishes to a person under the age of 21 years a product containing nicotine or lobelia is guilty of a misdemeanor for a subsequent violation within 5 years of a previous conviction (Sec. 12).

• Specifies that a person under the age of 21 years who purchases or attempts to purchase a product containing or delivering nicotine and who uses a driver’s license, permit, Minnesota identification card, or any type of false identification to misrepresent their age, will be subject to a civil penalty (Sec. 12).

• Requires law enforcement and court system representatives to consult with interested persons including parents, guardians, educators, and persons under the age of 21, to develop alternative civil penalties for persons under the age of 21 who violate the above highlight (Sec. 12).

• Specifies that consulting participants should consider a variety of alternative civil penalties including tobacco-free education programs, community service, court diversion programs, and tobacco cessation programs (Sec. 12).

Full Bill Text