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Bill

AJR 153

Designates May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month."

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tennille McCoy and 1 co-sponsor

Designates May as Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month in New Jersey to raise awareness and boost prevention/cessation among middle/high schoolers, via yearly proclamation.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Health Committee
#children #commemoratio #smoking
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Bill Summary · AJR 153

AJR 153 — Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month

A concise summary of the introduced joint resolution designating May as “Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month” in New Jersey.

Purpose and Intent

  • Designates May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" in New Jersey.
  • Aims to increase public awareness about the dangers of youth smoking and to encourage prevention and cessation efforts among middle and high school students.
  • Emphasizes address of short-term and long-term health consequences of tobacco use and the broader health and economic costs associated with smoking.

Key Provisions

  • Designation: May of every year is designated as “Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month” in New Jersey.
  • Governor’s Proclamation: The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation naming May as “Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month” and to call upon public officials and citizens to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
  • Effective Date: The joint resolution takes effect immediately.

Background and Rationale (as stated in the bill)

  • Cites statistics that a substantial portion of New Jersey middle school and high school students have used tobacco products.
  • Highlights health risks associated with adolescent smoking, including increased respiratory problems and long-term health harms such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and COPD.
  • Notes significant human and economic costs from smoking, including lives lost in New Jersey, national and state-level medical costs, and productivity losses.
  • Points to the fact that most smokers begin before age 18 and that May’s designation aligns with the idea that summer months see first-time experimentation, making May a strategic focus for prevention messages.
  • Acknowledges existing state efforts to educate vendors and enforce tobacco sales restrictions to minors.

Procedural Status and Timeline

  • Introduced: February 27, 2024.
  • Status: Introduced in the Assembly and referred to the Assembly Health Committee.
  • This is a joint resolution (non-binding declaration) and does not create new statutory requirements beyond the proclamation request and observance.

Impact and Scope

  • Target Population: Youth in middle and high school ages in New Jersey; public officials and citizens.
  • Financial/Funding: No explicit funding provisions are included in the text.
  • Practical Effect: Creates an annual observance intended to promote awareness and encourage ongoing smoking prevention and cessation efforts; relies on Governor’s proclamation and participation by state and local actors.

Related Legislation

  • Companion bill: SJR 75 (Senate counterpart).

If you’d like, I can compare AJR 153 with the Senate companion or provide a brief note on how similar “awareness month” designations function in practice in other states.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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