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Bill would require age verification for nitrous-oxide retail sales and online deliveries
Summary
House Bill 3,447 would require retailers to verify that purchasers of nitrous oxide (whipped-cream chargers, recreational canisters) are at least 18, and require adult acceptance for deliveries; sponsor said the goal is to reduce youth access to a substance increasingly circulated on social media.
Representative Emily McEntire introduced House Bill 3,447 to require retail sellers and online vendors of nitrous oxide to verify that a buyer is 18 or older and to use delivery practices similar to alcohol delivery — an adult must be present to accept a delivery.
McEntire said the bill responds to rising use of nitrous oxide among young people, often promoted on social media. She noted that canisters intended for culinary use are widely available online and at retail outlets and that the bill’s intent is to make retailers verify age without criminalizing youth.
“I'm not gonna take up a ton of your time … all this is requiring is that you have to verify that you are over the age of 18 when you're purchasing online and then we aligned it … with the same standards for delivering alcohol to a home,” McEntire told the committee.
Committee members asked whether lawful adult consumers who use nitrous oxide for automotive or culinary uses (for example, race-track enthusiasts who purchase bulk canisters) would be affected; McEntire said purchasers would still be able to buy in bulk but would need to show identification.
No enforcement details or fiscal impact estimates were discussed in the hearing record provided. The committee closed the public hearing and proceeded to an informational presentation.
