The Senate has passed in final reading a bill raising the smoking age from 18 to 21.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Magalei Logovii, also adds to the definition of tobacco products, all forms of products that contain nicotine, either naturally occurring or synthetic such as e-cigarettes and vapes. In addition the bill raises the annual license fee to sell cigarettes from $25 to $300.

Another provision of the bill sis that the sale of cigarettes located within 100 yards of a school shall be prohibited for one hour before and one hour after normal school years.

Any violations are to be referred to the Attorney General’s Office and prosecuted as a Class A Misdemeanor.

The main intention of the bill is to toughen safeguards to deter youth from smoking.