Press Releases

ADVISORY: Two Legislative Hearings to Focus on Minnesota’s Youth Tobacco Epidemic

ST. PAUL – This week, Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation will participate in two legislative hearings on the youth nicotine epidemic.

On Tuesday, February 18, members of the coalition will provide informational testimony to the House Education Policy Committee on youth e-cigarette use. The committee hearing begins at 2:30 p.m. in State Office Building Room 5.

On Wednesday, February 19, the House Commerce Committee will hear HF3032, which would prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products in Minnesota. Commerce Committee Chair Representative Laurie Halverson (DFL-Eagan) is chief author of that bill, and will testify along with representatives from the Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation coalition. Flavored tobacco products are a key reason Minnesota is facing a youth nicotine epidemic. Prohibiting the sale of all flavored tobacco products, especially menthol, will create a healthier future for kids and address tobacco-related health disparities.

Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation is a coalition of more than 60 organizations that share a common goal of reducing youth smoking and ending tobacco’s harm for good. In the 2020 Legislative Session, the coalition will promote a comprehensive approach to address tobacco’s harm. The coalition is united behind four major goals that reduce youth smoking and nicotine addiction, including increasing tobacco prices, raising the tobacco sale age to 21, prohibiting the sale of all flavored tobacco products and investing in tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Here are the details:

Informational presentation on youth e-cigarette use

WHEN: Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 2:30 p.m. (third on agenda)

WHAT: House Education Policy Committee

WHERE: State Office Building – Room 5

WHO: Members of Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation

• Molly Moilanen (Co-Chair, Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation)
• LaTrisha Vetaw (Health Policy & Advocacy Manager, NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center)
• Sue Nokleby (past president of the School Nurse Organization of MN)
• Kerry Juntunen (Superintendent from Hermantown Community Schools)
• Students from John Glenn Middle School (Maplewood)

FOLLOW: @smokefreegenMN

Hearing on HF3032 to prohibit all flavored tobacco products

WHEN: Wednesday, February 19, 2020, 2:30 p.m. (second on agenda)

WHAT: House Commerce Committee

WHERE: State Office Building – Basement Hearing Room

WHO: Chief author Committee Chair Rep. Laurie Halverson & Members of Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation

FOLLOW: @smokefreegenMN

About Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation

Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation is a coalition of more than 60 organizations that share a common goal of saving Minnesota youth from a lifetime of addiction to tobacco. The coalition supports policies that reduce youth smoking and nicotine addiction, including increasing tobacco prices, raising the tobacco sale age to 21, limiting access to candy-, fruit- and menthol-flavored tobacco, and funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

Partners include: The African American Leadership Forum, Allina Health, Allina Health | Aetna, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association in Minnesota, Apple Tree Dental, Association for Nonsmokers – Minnesota, Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation, Becker County Energized, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation, Cancer Legal Care, CentraCare, Children’s Defense Fund-MN, Children’s Minnesota, ClearWay Minnesota^SM, Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio – CLUES, Dodge County Public Health, Education Minnesota, Essentia Health, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, A Healthier Southwest, HealthPartners, Hennepin Healthcare, Horizon Public Health, Indigenous Peoples Task Force, ISAIAH, JustUs Health, LAAMPP Alumni, Lake Region Healthcare, Local Public Health Association of Minnesota, LPCFC – Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative, March of Dimes, Mayo Clinic, Medica, Meeker McLeod Sibley Community Health Services, Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers, Minnesota Cancer Alliance, Minnesota Council of Health Plans, MHA – Minnesota Hospital Association, Minnesota Medical Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, Minnesota Oral Health Coalition, Minnesota Public Health Association, MNAAP – Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, ModelCities, NAMI Minnesota, North Memorial Health, NorthPoint Health & Wellness, Olmsted Medical Center, Open Cities Health Center, PartnerSHIP 4 Health, Perham Health & Living, Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, ShiftMN, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, Steele County Public Health, Tobacco-Free Alliance, Twin Cities Medical Society, UCare, Vision In Living Life – Change is Possible, WellShare International and Zumbro Valley Medical Society. Find out more at: smokefreegenmn.org.