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Panel hears bipartisan support to raise legal vape-purchase age to 21
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Summary
Senate Bill 144 would move the minimum purchase age for vape and other nicotine-delivery products to 21. Prosecutors, medical groups and school principals told the committee the change would reduce youth access and fund education and enforcement.
Senator Alexander introduced Senate Bill 144, which would raise the minimum legal purchase age for vape and other nicotine-delivery products to 21. He said the bill responds in part to concerns from local students and aims to reduce the supply of vape products in K–12 schools.
"This would move everything that is a vape, whether it's got nicotine or not, to 21," the senator said, explaining the intent is to limit access and address reports of students hiding vape use during school hours.
Representatives of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys' Council, the Indiana State Medical Association and the Indiana Association of School Principals voiced support. Chris Daniels, representing prosecutors, called the bill a "common sense step" to address youth vaping; Doug Boyle said the state's physicians back the expansion of age restrictions; Cindy Long said school principals see the products entering schools and supported raising penalties that would fund tobacco-education programs.
Committee members asked whether the bill covers non-nicotine devices and how the law would affect retail sellers; witnesses said sponsors intend the language to cover a broad set of nicotine-delivery products and to target supply chains rather than criminalize students.
The committee did not vote and plans to consider amendments next week.
