INDIANAPOLIS – Key lawmakers have vaping in their crosshairs and are starting with when you should be able to buy the products.
GOP House Speaker Brian Bosma (Indianapolis) said Monday that he – and most of the House Republican caucus – is endorsing raising the age to buy tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21.
This is an about-face for Bosma and others who blocked the move previously – noting 18-year-old Hoosiers could serve in the military, vote and buy a gun at 18.
Bosma said he changed his mind because the armed services and veterans’ groups support it. And he also noted the vast increase in youth vaping and related deaths and illnesses.
But he and Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) said a move to tax vaping products or increase traditional cigarette taxes likely won’t move this session.
"That opens up the budget," Bray said. "It’s not a good time."
Lawmakers passed a two-year budget earlier this year and usually try to avoid major fiscal issues until 2021.
Senate Democrat Leader Tim Lanane of Anderson said the state needs to look at ways to restrict the attractiveness of the product to youth. A key way to do so would be to ban adding flavors to the e-liquids.
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