Michigan Senators Introduce Bipartisan Tobacco Prevention Legislation to Protect Michigan Kids
Bills sponsored by Sens. Sam Singh and Joe Bellino would require licenses for tobacco retailers to help keep dangerous tobacco and nicotine products out of the hands of kids
LANSING - The Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance applauded Michigan Senators Thursday for introducing bipartisan bills to protect youth from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine addiction. Senate Bills 462, 464 and 465, sponsored by state Sens. Sam Singh and Joe Bellino, would require tobacco retailers to be licensed, just like alcohol and marijuana retailers, enabling the state to stop sales of tobacco to Michigan’s kids.
“This legislation is about putting responsibility where it belongs: on retailers, not kids,” said Jodi Radke, regional advocacy director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and co-chair of the Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance. “Michigan has lacked the tools to enforce tobacco laws properly, and our kids have paid the price of easy, unchecked access. Licensing retailers, while eliminating outdated penalties on youth, sends a clear message: prevention matters more than punishment. We’re encouraged to see bipartisan interest in this issue and urge lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to put Michigan’s kids first.”
Michigan is one of only nine states where tobacco products can be sold without a license. The legislation requires retailers to obtain a state-issued licensed to sell tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Requiring a tobacco retail license (TRL) will give Michigan an enforcement tool to reduce youth access to tobacco and nicotine products.
“It is far too easy for young people to get their hands on tobacco and nicotine products that are highly addictive,” said Dr. Brittany Tayler, pediatrician and co-chair of the Alliance. “The introduction of this evidence-based legislation shows that Michigan Senators want to finish the job they started last session to protect Michigan youth. We applaud Sens. Singh and Bellino for their leadership and hope this legislation advances quickly through the Legislature.”
Research shows that strong TRL policies can decrease youth initiation and use rates and reduce the sale of tobacco products to underage persons. During the past three years, 26% of Michigan’s tobacco retailers failed federal compliance checks and sold tobacco products to an underage purchaser. According to the most recent Michigan Youth Tobacco Survey, 95% of youth who attempted to buy e-cigarettes were not turned away because of their age.
Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in Michigan, killing 16,200 state residents each year, more than HIV, alcohol, car accidents, opioid overdoses, murders and suicide combined. Michigan is one of 12 states that make up “Tobacco Nation” where smoking prevalence is over 25% higher in Michigan compared to the rest of the country.
The Alliance also supports bills (SBs 463 and 466, sponsored by Sens. Wojno and Cavanagh respectively) that go hand-in-hand with the TRL bills by repealing ineffective penalties that punish kids for possession of tobacco products and, instead, hold companies accountable that profit from tobacco sales.
The legislation was referred to the Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs.
About the Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance
The Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance is a coalition of more than 120 public health, community organizations, school groups and other community groups advocating for stronger tobacco policy and prevention in Michigan. Learn more at KeepMIKidsTobaccoFree.com.
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