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Senate committee delays vote on nitrous-oxide canister age limit after senators seek higher threshold
Summary
Lawmakers debated House Bill 3447, which would require retailers to verify buyers of nitrous oxide canisters are at least 18; senators discussed raising the age to 21 and agreed to carry the bill over for further work and possible amendment to change the age threshold.
House Bill 3447A, reported from the House with 57 aye votes and heard April 15 in the Senate Committee on Labor and Business, would require retailers to verify that purchasers of retail nitrous oxide canisters that a person may directly inhale are at least 18 years old, and would require delivery verification for online sales to Oregon addresses. Representative McIntyre, the bill sponsor in the House, told the committee the measure applies to sales on or after Jan. 1, 2026.
Committee members asked whether the bill should raise the minimum age to 21. Discussion noted related legislation on flavored products and concern about how industry might adapt. Senator Hayden volunteered to support a committee amendment to move the age threshold to 21 if sponsors or the House could secure concurrence. After conversation, Vice Chair Bonham rescinded an earlier motion to move HB 3447 to the floor and the committee agreed to carry the item over for further discussion next week (the chair said they would target Thursday but could postpone to the following week to accommodate members).
Why it matters: sponsors and some members said raising the age could reduce youth access while others said the bill’s scope and possible unintended consequences (for example, differing retail vs. online rules) warranted more time for negotiation.
No final vote occurred; the committee closed the hearing and scheduled the bill for further work-session consideration.
