FALLON - A bill that would have made it illegal for minors to possess and use tobacco died when it was not brought up for a vote in the Assembly Judiciary Committee of the Nevada Legislature by the deadline for passing bills.
SB14, sponsored by Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, on behalf of the Churchill County School District, did not make it out of the committee before Friday's deadline. McGinness said Monday he is disappointed the measure died because he thought it had a good chance of becoming law.
"I thought things were going very well," he said about support for the bill.
It would have changed Nevada law to make it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess or use tobacco products. Currently, it is against the law for teens to purchase those products, but there is no law prohibiting minors from possessing or using tobacco.
On Friday, SB14 was set for discussion in the Assembly Judiciary Committee chaired by Assemblyman Bernie Anderson, D-Washoe County.
"He didn't even bring it up for a vote," said McGinness. "It was never listed and never brought up."