October 3, 2025
California has once again taken the lead in public health innovation with the passage of Assembly Bill 455, authored by Assemblymember Ortega. Signed into law in October 2025, AB 455 is the first-in-the-nation legislation to require disclosure of thirdhand smoke contamination in residential real estate transactions.
November 7, 2025
The town of Tiburon in Marin County, California has banned the sale of tobacco products. The ban, set to go into effect on December 5th of this year, goes further than those passed by Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach in 2021, which carved out some exemptions. Kudos to the local high school students and members of the Youth Advocacy Committee, who brought the issue to their town council.
November 3, 2025
The Maldives is the first country in the world to impose a generational smoking ban. The ban prohibits anyone born after January 1, 2007 from purchasing or using tobacco products of any kind, expanding existing law that prohibits the use of vapes and electronic cigarettes for all ages. While the Maldives is not the first to pass a generational ban, it has become the first country to enforce one, as New Zealand’s generational ban was passed in 2022 but repealed in 2023 before it could be enforced.
October 14, 2025
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called upon nations to ban cigarette filters because they provide no protection from the risks of smoking and pollute the environment with microplastics and tobacco smoke chemicals. While some nations support the effort, multiple challenges to a global ban on cigarette filters remain. Public health campaigns are needed to dispel industry myths about filters and shed light on their environmental harm.
August 21, 2025
The City Council of Euclid, Ohio, has unanimously approved a new ordinance banning smoking and vaping on all public property. Taking effect next month, the policy aims to protect public health by minimizing exposure to second- and thirdhand smoke, as well as reducing tobacco product waste in outdoor areas. We applaud the City of Euclid for taking a crucial step to reduce the harmful impacts of commercial tobacco products in the community!
August 6, 2025
The City of Menlo Park adopted its county’s TRL ordinance, which bans commercial tobacco sales within 1,000 feet of any ‘youth-populated area’ and allows San Mateo County to enforce these regulations. By limiting the availability and visibility of tobacco products, the ordinance not only supports youth health but also contributes to environmental protection by reducing generations of commercial tobacco product use and tobacco product waste.
