The Yolo County Board of Supervisors held an information hearing on a proposed ordinance, which would aim to prevent youth from being able to obtain harmful tobacco and nicotine products.

These amendments to current policy would promote public health and provide regulatory protection for Yolo County’s youth in regard to nicotine and tobacco, as well as make it a violation to sell drug paraphernalia where tobacco products or tobacco paraphernalia are sold.

According to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking among those under 18 is at its lowest in 25 years. From 2023 to 2024, the number of students reporting tobacco use decreased by at least half a million, with 10.1% of high school students and 5.4% of middle school students in the United States reporting they use tobacco products.

The ordinance, which was presented by Yolo County Health and Human Services’ Steve Jensen, would change the language in current local legislation to match the state of California’s definitions for “coupon,” “drug paraphernalia,” and “youth decoy.”

Key changes include:

Introducing specific definitions for terms like “Arm’s Length Transaction,” “Cigar,” “Electronic Smoking Device,” “Flavored Tobacco Product,” and “Tobacco Retailer.”

Clarifying what constitutes drug paraphernalia, tobacco products, and tobacco paraphernalia.

Mandating a valid permit for tobacco retailing.

Prohibiting false or misleading advertising by those without a valid permit.

Monitoring to be conducted annually by HHSA Tobacco Prevention Staff or other designated parties.

Banning the sale of drug paraphernalia where tobacco products are sold.

In addition, the proposed amendments would establish “youth decoys” — young adults hired by law enforcement to go undercover to see if local tobacco retailers will sell products to seemingly underage customers. The policy would also protect youth decoys from any legal ramifications from their participation in enforcement operations, according to Jensen.

The board voted unanimously to move the ordinance to a vote at an upcoming meeting. A date hasn’t been finalized at the time of writing.