State tobacco bill dies in committee - East Idaho News
Local

State tobacco bill dies in committee

  Published at

BOISE — Some called the proposed legislation an infringement on personal freedoms, others said it was essential for public health — but whatever the case, it died today.

In a six to three vote Wednesday, the Senate State Affairs Committee killed a bill that would have raised legal age to buy tobacco products from 18-years-old to 21-years-old

“I think that the overriding thing was personal freedoms,” Pres. Pro Tempore Sen. Brent Hill (R-Rexburg) told EastIdahoNews.com.

Hill, who is a member of the State Affairs Committee, said he was in favor of the bill, as was committee chair Sen. Jeff Siddoway (R-Terreton).

“We had testimony from people on both sides,” Hill said. “I think both sides made some good points. On one side you’re dealing with personal freedoms … on the other side we had some doctors and nurses come and talk about some of the experiences they had in treating people with tobacco-related diseases.”

This is the second time Sen. Fred Martin (R-Boise), the bill’s sponsor, has brought an anti-tobacco bill to the Senate. It failed in the same committee last year. The bill had been amended from last year, based on feedback from other legislators, however, it still failed.

“It’s hard to address the concern that you’re infringing upon someone’s freedom,” Hill said. “I mean, there’s just no way to overcome that argument. That’s the most compelling argument for some people.”

Rexburg recently passed a city ordinance banning anyone under 21-years-old from purchasing tobacco products within the city. In an interview with EastIdahoNews.com, city councilmember Chris Mann said he hoped the city’s passage of the ordinance would have sent a message to the state that this is something Idaho wants.

SUBMIT A CORRECTION