California Lawmakers Block Bill To Regulate E-Cigarettes
SACRAMENTO (AP) — A legislative panel has opted not to take up a bill aimed at curbing youth smoking by regulating e-cigarettes in California after a heated hearing.
A separate measure calling for the legal smoking age to be raised to 21 was pulled from the agenda just before Wednesday's hearing by the Committee on Governmental Organization.
Committee members first amended the e-cigarette bill by Sen. Mark Leno of San Francisco, gutting its proposal to regulate electronic cigarettes as tobacco products. That prompted the Democrat to urge a no vote on his own bill.
Democratic Sen. Ed Hernandez of La Puente pulled his measure to increase the smoking age, saying it lacked sufficient support.
The decisions mark a temporary win for tobacco companies that have lobbied lawmakers.
Both bills passed the Senate last month.
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