BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 484 By: Lalani Higher Education Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that tobacco use, including the use of e-cigarettes, continues to be a public health concern and strains healthcare systems. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids reports that nearly $10.3 billion dollars in annual health care costs in Texas are directly caused by smoking and that the state's Medicaid costs caused by smoking are an estimated $2.1 billion. Further, the American College Health Association's Spring 2019 National College Health Assessment found that 14.3 percent of undergraduate students reported using e‑cigarettes within the last 30 days, indicating a rise in e-cigarette use among college students. The CDC reports that as of 2017, at least 2,082 colleges and universities in the United States had smoke-free policies, twice as many as in 2012, with an estimated 84 percent having tobacco-free policies and 80 percent specifically prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes. H.B. 484 seeks to promote a healthier environment for students and staff in Texas by authorizing public institutions of higher education to adopt policies prohibiting the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 484 amends the Education Code to authorize a public institution of higher education to adopt a policy prohibiting the use of a cigarette, e-cigarette, or tobacco product on the grounds of, or in any building located on, the institution's campus. The bill provides for the meaning of "cigarette" and "tobacco product" by reference to the Tax Code and for the meaning of "e‑cigarette" by reference to the Health and Safety Code. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 484
By: Lalani
Higher Education
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 484
By: Lalani
Higher Education
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that tobacco use, including the use of e-cigarettes, continues to be a public health concern and strains healthcare systems. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids reports that nearly $10.3 billion dollars in annual health care costs in Texas are directly caused by smoking and that the state's Medicaid costs caused by smoking are an estimated $2.1 billion. Further, the American College Health Association's Spring 2019 National College Health Assessment found that 14.3 percent of undergraduate students reported using e‑cigarettes within the last 30 days, indicating a rise in e-cigarette use among college students. The CDC reports that as of 2017, at least 2,082 colleges and universities in the United States had smoke-free policies, twice as many as in 2012, with an estimated 84 percent having tobacco-free policies and 80 percent specifically prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes. H.B. 484 seeks to promote a healthier environment for students and staff in Texas by authorizing public institutions of higher education to adopt policies prohibiting the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 484 amends the Education Code to authorize a public institution of higher education to adopt a policy prohibiting the use of a cigarette, e-cigarette, or tobacco product on the grounds of, or in any building located on, the institution's campus. The bill provides for the meaning of "cigarette" and "tobacco product" by reference to the Tax Code and for the meaning of "e‑cigarette" by reference to the Health and Safety Code.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee that tobacco use, including the use of e-cigarettes, continues to be a public health concern and strains healthcare systems. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids reports that nearly $10.3 billion dollars in annual health care costs in Texas are directly caused by smoking and that the state's Medicaid costs caused by smoking are an estimated $2.1 billion. Further, the American College Health Association's Spring 2019 National College Health Assessment found that 14.3 percent of undergraduate students reported using e‑cigarettes within the last 30 days, indicating a rise in e-cigarette use among college students.
The CDC reports that as of 2017, at least 2,082 colleges and universities in the United States had smoke-free policies, twice as many as in 2012, with an estimated 84 percent having tobacco-free policies and 80 percent specifically prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes. H.B. 484 seeks to promote a healthier environment for students and staff in Texas by authorizing public institutions of higher education to adopt policies prohibiting the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 484 amends the Education Code to authorize a public institution of higher education to adopt a policy prohibiting the use of a cigarette, e-cigarette, or tobacco product on the grounds of, or in any building located on, the institution's campus. The bill provides for the meaning of "cigarette" and "tobacco product" by reference to the Tax Code and for the meaning of "e‑cigarette" by reference to the Health and Safety Code.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.