Board waives first reading of tobacco retailer permit amendments; updates clarify coupons, decoy operations and new products

The Yolo County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28 introduced updates to the county’s tobacco retailer permit ordinance and voted to waive the first reading, sending the measure to a subsequent meeting for final adoption.

Steven Jensen, program manager for the county’s tobacco prevention program, said the changes are largely definitional and intended to keep the county code aligned with state law and to close loopholes created by emerging tobacco products. Jensen said the ordinance updates add a definition for “coupon,” expand the definition of “tobacco product” to capture new products that attempt to skirt existing definitions, clarify who may enforce the permit (allowing the health officer to designate enforcement staff) and add explicit language covering youth decoy operations used in compliance checks.

“Sometimes people want to say, ‘that kid’s only 19 years old,’” Jensen said, describing the purpose of the decoy language. “But if they do it under the direction of our program, then they are covered legally.”

Supervisor Lucas Frerichs moved to waive the first reading and continue the matter to a future meeting for adoption; Supervisor Reza Barajas seconded the motion. The board approved the motion unanimously by roll call.

What’s next Staff will return at a subsequent meeting with the ordinance on the consent or adoption calendar, with the new definitions and enforcement clarifications in place pending final adoption.