Rep. Robyn Vining Proposes Bill to Curb Youth Vaping & Protect Consumers
Bill is part of the Vaping Awareness Prevention package to improve public health in Wisconsin.
MADISON – Today, State Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) and State Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) introduced a bill to enforce proper business practices by vaping product retailers, as they currently do for tobacco and cigarette products in Wisconsin. This bill is part of the Vaping Awareness Prevention package to improve public health in Wisconsin in regards to the use and sale of vaping products. Rep. Vining released the following statement regarding this legislation:
“Youth vaping has increased dramatically in just a few years. E-cigarette use by Wisconsin high school students jumped 154% between 2014 and 2018. For middle schoolers, use surged 272%. Today, 1 in 3 Wisconsin high school students have tried e-cigarettes, and 1 in 5 are current users. This bill package will build upon and bolster ongoing efforts to prevent youth exposure to health risks of vaping.
“Last year, the Department of Health Services issued a health advisory to inform the public of the risks associated with youth vaping. A number of Wisconsin state agencies have already begun collaborating with local agencies, providing consumer protection and public safety information, and strengthening enforcement measures to prevent the illicit sale of e-cigarettes and vapor products to youth.
“To build on these efforts, this bill provides necessary licensing requirements for municipalities to enforce proper business practices by vaping product retailers, as they currently do for tobacco and cigarette products. It also adds positions to help enforce these new requirements on the state level, and to combat dishonest marketing practices by vaping product companies in order to protect public health and safety.
“Our role as legislators is to write and pass laws that protect and promote the well-being and safety of our constituents. Vaping has quickly become a public health and safety issue, especially when it comes to our kids. This bill builds on the action by our state agencies to protect public health and consumer safety. We are partnering with experts to work to protect our kids.”
Rep. Vining represents the 14th Assembly District, which includes parts of Brookfield, Wauwatosa, and Milwaukee. For more information, visit Rep. Vining’s website here.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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