Bill raising statewide tobacco sale age to 21 passes in both House and Senate

The group Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation is praising state lawmakers after passing a bill raising the statewide tobacco sale age to 21. 

Spokeswoman Laura Smith. The bill updates state tobacco definitions to include all the latest tobacco products, compliance checks and penalties to follow the federal Tobacco 21 law. In Minnesota, 75 communities had already adopted local Tobacco 21 policies, including Austin, Albert Lea and Waseca locally.  The bill passed in both the state House and Senate with bipartisan support and is now headed to Governor Walz for a signature.