7/2/2019 Texas legal age for tobacco could go from 18 to 21 under Senate proposal | The Texas Tribune Help us keep reporters out in the field covering the migrant X crisis. DONATE NOW MENU Texas could soon increase the legal age to buy tobacco, though active military members might be exempt Senate Bill 21 passed Tuesday, raising the legal purchasing age for tobacco products from 18 to 21. But its author amended the legislation to exclude active military from the age raise. BY ELIZABETH BYRNE APRIL 9, 2019 6 PM https://www.texastribune.org/2019/04/09/texas-legal-age-tobacco-could-go-18-21-under-senate-proposal/ 1/3 7/2/2019 Texas legal age for tobacco could go from 18 to 21 under Senate proposal | The Texas Tribune THelphe Texa sus Sen akteeep has pa srseeportersd Senate Bill 21 ,out which inwou lthed raise field the lega lco agevering for most pe otheple bu migrying tobaantcco X products from 18 to 21. Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune crisis. The age of Texans who can leDONAgally buy TEtob aNOcco pWroducts could soon rise from 18 to 21 years old — except for active military members. The Texas Senate on Tuesday passed Senate Bill 21 in a 20-11 vote after state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, amended her own legislation to include the military exemption. State Sen. John Whitmire of Houston was the only Democrat who voted against the bill. The bill faced some opposition from Republicans who criticized the age raise because, they said, it denied the right for young adults who enlist in the military to choose to use tobacco products, The Dallas Morning News reported Tuesday. The exception for military members allows Texans who are 18 and older and serving in the armed forces to purchase tobacco products if they have a valid military ID. A companion bill in the lower chamber passed unanimously out of a Texas House committee last month but did not have the exception for active military. The author of the House bill, Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, said he would accept an exemption for active military as it would still keep tobacco products away from high school students, according to the Dallas newspaper. Zerwas was not immediately available for comment. The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. Texas 21, a coalition of organizations aiming to raise the tobacco purchase legal age to 21, released a statement opposing the military exemption after the Senate amendment. Claudia Rodas, a regional director of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in written statement that the coalition will work with legislators to understand the need to include the military in the bill. She said the goal is a law that “protects all young Texans, including those who are willing to die to protect our country.” https://www.texastribune.org/2019/04/09/texas-legal-age-tobacco-could-go-18-21-under-senate-proposal/ 2/3 7/2/2019 Texas legal age for tobacco could go from 18 to 21 under Senate proposal | The Texas Tribune Lt. Governor Dan Patrick previously identified SB 21 as one of his priorities this X Helpses ussion .keep reporters out in the field covering the migrant crisis. “Increasing the age to purchase tobacco products in Texas to 21 will not only improve public health and saDONAve countleTEss l iNOves, iWt will save Texans billions of dollars in health care costs,” Patrick said in a statement Tuesday. The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. Quality journalism doesn't come free Perhaps it goes without saying — but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Do you value our journalism? Show us with your support. YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY https://www.texastribune.org/2019/04/09/texas-legal-age-tobacco-could-go-18-21-under-senate-proposal/ 3/3.