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Dispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Oregon Legislature. This is a venue for political and policy coverage of the state government in Salem and its impact on the people of Oregon.

Oregon House Approves Ban On Selling E-Cigarettes To Kids

Jessica Robinson
/
Northwest News Network
Oregon lawmakers voted to ban the sales of e-cigarettes to kids.

Oregon is one of a handful of states that doesn't restrict the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors. The Oregon House voted Monday to change that.

An e-cigarette produces vapor. So when you do the e-cigarette equivalent of lighting up, it's called vaping. And the bill that bans sales of e-cigarettes to kids also bans anyone from using them in most indoor public places. Including where they're sold.

That had some lawmakers like Republican Sherrie Sprenger scratching their heads.

"There was an amendment introduced that allowed vaping in vape shops,” she said. “Why not? I just leave you with that question. Why not allow vape shops to have vaping in them?"

But despite her reservations, Sprenger and nearly every other representative voted for the bill, which now heads to the Oregon Senate.

One thing the legislation doesn't do: Tax e-cigarettes. That provision sunk a similar version of the measure last year.