House committee votes in favor of raising smoking age in Washington to 21

OLYMPIA – Amid growing support from the public, Washington moved closer to upping the minimum age for tobacco purchases to 21 years old.

The House Health Care & Wellness Committee voted 9-3 to pass along a bill requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

“This legislation will literally save lives,” Ferguson said in a press release.

Last week, a poll found that 65 percent of voters are in favor of raising the smoking and vaping age from 18 to 21.

The next step for the bill is a trip to the House Finance Committee. Its companion bill in the Senate will get a hearing Monday in the Commerce & Labor Committee.