Summary — H.R. 374 (2025): Youth Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation Task Force
Bill number: H.R. 374
Title (as provided): HEALTH: Creates the Youth Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation Task Force to study the effects and impacts of nicotine use by persons under twenty-one years of age
Classification: Resolution
Introduced: January 13, 2025
Current status (from record): Adopted by the House (read by title, roll called yeas 98, nays 0), enrolled and presented to the Secretary of State (June 12–13, 2025)
Note on source material: The document record provided contains multiple, unrelated text inserts (award/ceremony resolutions and other language). The full/enrolled text of H.R. 374 creating the Task Force was not included in the supplied document. The summary below is based on the bill title, metadata, and typical content and purpose of similar task‑force resolutions; where the official text was not available, that is explicitly noted.
Purpose and intent
The stated purpose is to establish a Youth Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation Task Force to examine the prevalence, health effects, and broader impacts of nicotine use among persons under age 21, and to develop recommendations to reduce youth nicotine dependence and improve cessation access.
Key provisions (based on title and typical structure)
Because the official bill text was not provided, specific statutory language (membership, reporting deadlines, funding, or enforcement mechanisms) could not be verified. Typical elements such a resolution or enabling statute would include:
- Creation of a Task Force or Advisory Committee charged with studying nicotine product use (including cigarettes, e-cigarettes/vaping, smokeless tobacco) among persons under 21.
- Defined membership drawn from public-health officials, clinicians (pediatrics/behavioral health), school/school‑district representatives, researchers/epidemiologists, youth and parent advocates, and possibly law‑enforcement and industry observers.
- Duties to review data on prevalence and trends, health effects (short and long term), patterns of initiation, marketing and access channels (retail/online), and existing cessation interventions and programs.
- Requirement to evaluate disparities (by race/ethnicity, geography, socioeconomic status) and barriers to cessation services for youth.
- Development of specific policy and program recommendations (e.g., targeted cessation services, school-based interventions, outreach strategies, regulatory or enforcement changes) and an implementation roadmap.
- A reporting requirement delivering findings and recommendations to the Legislature (and/or Governor or relevant agencies) by a specified date. Funding and administrative support (which agency houses the Task Force) are typically spelled out but were not present in the provided materials.
Who would be affected
- Youth and young adults under age 21 (primary population studied).
- State and local public‑health agencies, school systems, and healthcare providers who may be charged with implementing recommendations.
- Community organizations and youth‑serving groups focused on prevention and cessation.
- Retailers and online vendors of nicotine products if recommendations include regulatory or enforcement changes.
- Insurers and Medicaid/state health programs if coverage of cessation services is recommended.
Procedural history (selected actions)
- 2025-01-13: Introduced; referred to Appropriations and Ways & Means committees for consideration.
- 2025-03 to 2025-05: Placed on calendars, considered, and adopted in various procedural steps.
- 2025-06-12: Read by title; roll call vote 98–0; enrolled and signed by Speaker.
- 2025-06-13: Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State (per House rules).
Notes and recommended next steps
- The official enrolled text of H.R. 374 (the Task Force language) was not contained in the supplied packet; instead the record included unrelated resolutions and award language. To confirm specific membership, deadlines, funding, and legal effect, consult the enrolled bill/resolution text on the official legislative website or the Secretary of State’s office.
- If implemented, the Task Force’s recommendations could lead to new state policies on youth access to nicotine products, expanded cessation services for young people, and targeted public‑health campaigns.
