SACRAMENTO, CA – With bipartisan support, the California State Assembly passed SB 1230-the STOP and Seize Illegal Tobacco Products Act by Senator Rubio (D-Baldwin Park).  SB 1230 prioritizes the health and safety of California youth and all Californians, by strengthening enforcement of California’s flavored tobacco ban and removing illegal tobacco products from the market.

“As a school teacher, I know all too well that California students continue to have easy access to addictive e-cigarettes with flavors designed to appeal to youth,” said Senator Susan Rubio. “This is why I pushed legislation in 2020 to ban the sale of flavored tobacco in California. It is alarming that unauthorized tobacco products continue to flow into California and end up in the hands of our youth. We must increase the enforcement of California’s flavored tobacco ban to stop the spread of illegal tobacco products.” continued Rubio.

SB 1230, also known as the Strengthen Tobacco Oversight Programs (STOP) and Seize Illegal Tobacco Products Act, will authorize employees of the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to seize and destroy flavored tobacco products discovered during inspections of locations where tobacco products are sold or stored. SB 1230 will also increase the civil penalties for retailers who sell illegal tobacco products and tobacco products to people under 21 years old.

According to the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey, approximately 2.8 million high school students and middle school students used a tobacco product in the past year, and nearly 90 percent of youth electronic cigarette users used flavored products. Despite California’s flavored tobacco ban there has been a surge in illegal tobacco products being imported into the state. In December 2023, the United States Customs and Border Protection seized more than 1.4 million illegal e-cigarettes, valued at $18 million, at Los Angeles International Airport.

“We are happy to see SB 1230 move forward and are grateful for Senator Rubio’s leadership,” said Alexandria Felton, Regional Advocacy Director for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. “Authorizing the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to seize and destroy flavored tobacco products discovered during existing retail inspections provides officials with a powerful tool to counter the industry’s relentless targeting of kids and holds bad actors responsible for their actions.”

“The American Lung Association is pleased to work with Senator Rubio on legislation that will protect the health of California youth and adults from the harmful effects of tobacco products,” said Kesa Bruce, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in California.

“Tobacco companies are incessantly marketing to youth, selling their products where kids regularly gather and shop,” said Jamie Morgan, Senior Region Lead for State Government Relations at the American Heart Association. “This bill will ensure that retailers are complying with California’s flavored tobacco law and make it harder for kids to obtain dangerous flavored tobacco products.”

“Granting state inspectors the authority to seize and dispose of unlawful flavored tobacco products in stores will strengthen our efforts to reduce tobacco use, prevent youth addiction, advance health equity, and decrease the suffering and death caused by tobacco-related diseases such as cancer,” said Autumn J. Ogden-Smith, Director of California State Legislation for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “We thank Senator Rubio for her leadership on this issue and look forward to the bill continuing to gather support in the Assembly.”

Senator Rubio has been a legislative champion in the fight against Big Tobacco since joining the State Senate. She authored Senate Bill 538 in 2019 to help educate teachers and parents about the dangers of electronic cigarettes and coauthored Senate Bill 793 in 2020 to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in California. She also authored Senate Bill 626 in 2023 to protect the safety of hospitality workers and guests by making every California hotel and motel room smoke-free. The STOP and Seize Illegal Tobacco Products Act introduced this year is sponsored by the American Lung Association, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

SB 1230 now is headed to the Senate Floor for concurrence.

Senator Susan Rubio represents Senate District 22. For more information, visit https://sd22.senate.ca.gov/

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