State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield)
State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield)
State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) supported a bill that changes the age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21.
Batinick said on the House floor that he supported House Bill 345, but he also asked about the decriminalization aspect of the bill.
"While this bill raises the age of purchasing to 21, it decriminalizes it for those under 18 to have tobacco products," Batinick. "Do you have any concerns that this might make accessibility for kids 15, 16 or 17 actually higher since the access is easier than it currently stands today?"
Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Oak Park), the House sponsor of the bill, said that 18-year-olds are typically the suppliers of tobacco products to younger teenagers and that 21-year-olds don't typically associate with younger teens.
"Do you know what the lost tax revenue to the state will be?" Batinick questioned.
Lilly said the numbers they had were inflated, but she didn't currently have them at that time.
"To the bill, I think some of us will be for it and some will oppose it, but I think there are some important unanswered questions," Batinick said.
The bill passed the House 82-31.
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