One of the major public health achievements the Texas Medical Association pushed for this past legislative session was Senate Bill 21, which raises the minimum age to buy tobacco and vape-product in Texas from 18 to 21 years.
This was the second consecutive session in which Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) and Rep. John Zerwas, MD (R-Richmond), sponsored the bill, which died in the Senate in 2017.
The lifesaving measure is featured in today’s TMA’s Legislative News Hotline video report. TMA Vice President of Advocacy Darren Whitehurst credits the support of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen for the bill’s passage. Gov. Greg Abbott late last week signed the bill, which will take effect Sept. 1.
See this and more in today’s Hotline video report, the eighth in TMA’s legislative summary series on the top 10 issues lawmakers addressed this year.
Last Updated On
February 03, 2020
Brent Annear
Director, Media and Public Relations
(512) 370-1381
brent.annear[at]texmed[dot]org
Brent Annear is TMA’s director of media relations and PR. He joined TMA in 2001 after working two decades in television news. Brent and his team share TMA’s mission and vision with the world through news releases, blog and social media posts, and videos. He is a University of Texas graduate who hails from Minnesota. Brent is married and has two stepsons. He enjoys photography, golf, travel, volunteering and woodworking projects, and he is a private pilot.