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Town of Wallkill adopts local law banning smoking and vaping on town property
Summary
After a public hearing featuring youth and prevention groups, the Town of Wallkill adopted Local Law No. 13 of 2025 to prohibit smoking and vaping of tobacco and cannabis products on town property; the board approved an amendment to the hearing notice and passed the law by recorded vote.
The Town of Wallkill on Dec. 18 adopted a local law prohibiting smoking and vaping of tobacco and cannabis products on town-owned property, including parks, following a public hearing that featured students and local prevention groups urging action.
Youth speakers framed the change as a public-health and youth-prevention measure. “What adults do in public teaches kids what is acceptable,” said McKenna Larson, a Pine Mish High School student representing Tri County Youth Partnership. Noah Gonzales, also speaking in favor, said he was “really excited” the board was considering banning vaping in parks and playgrounds.
Public-health organizations echoed the point. Elena Isloffel, program director for the Tri County Prevention Coalition, said the coalition has worked to educate young people about vaping’s harms and thanked the board for taking up the issue. Power Against Tobacco’s Katie Farrelly also thanked town officials for partnering on education and policy.
The town clerk read the introductory local law amending chapter 178 (peace and good order) to update the town’s smoking-on-town-property rules to specifically prohibit smoking cannabis products and vaping tobacco or cannabis on town property. The board approved a procedural amendment to the hearing notice to explicitly include other town buildings (water, sewer and highway department buildings) before voting on the law.
The resolution as read in the meeting identifies the adopted ordinance as “Local Law Number 13 of 2025” amending chapter 178. The board recorded its vote in favor of the adoption; the transcript records affirmative votes from the board members present. The resolution text and the ordinance are available for review at Walk Hill Town Hall.
The law’s effective date was not specified during the meeting; the town clerk indicated copies of the final local law would be entered into the town’s local law book and filed with the New York Secretary of State.
The board also received a piece of correspondence from the Public Health Law Center that will be made part of the record for the local law.
