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Youth Prevention and Tobacco Harm Reduction Act

Introduced: March 3, 2009 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 4, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Mar 3, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 3, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Youth Prevention and Tobacco Harm Reduction Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Tobacco Harm Reduction Center within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Gives the Center's Administrator the authority to regulate tobacco products, including through disclosure, registration, and inspection.

Sets forth criteria by which tobacco products are deemed adulterated or misbranded and prohibits the introduction or receipt of any such product in interstate commerce.

Prohibits any person from using certain descriptors on packaging or advertising of any cigarette brand style. Allows the Administrator to adopt additional smoking article standards as appropriate to protect the public health.

Sets forth provisions governing cigarette tar yield limits.

Prohibits the Administrator from: (1) banning specific classes of tobacco products; (2) requiring the reduction of tar or nicotine yields to zero; or (3) establishing a minimum age of sale of smoking articles to any person older than 18.

Requires premarket approval of all new tobacco products.

Sets forth standards for the sale of modified risk tobacco products.

Directs the Administrator to establish the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee.

Revises tobacco product warning labels and advertising requirements.

Requires the Administrator to establish standards requiring tobacco product manufacturers to publicly disclose a list of ingredients in each brand style.

Directs the Administrator to study and report on illicit trade in tobacco products.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to limit substance abuse funds for states that do not have in effect a statute setting forth specific provisions to prevent the sale of tobacco products to minors.

Directs the Administrator to establish standards and procedures for ranking tobacco products based on the relative risks of serious or chronic tobacco-related diseases and adverse health conditions.

Declares that no provision in this Act shall allow any person to require changes to traditional farming practices.

What's happening now March 4, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1261: Youth Prevention and Tobacco Harm Reduction Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1261/
MLA
"H.R. 1261: Youth Prevention and Tobacco Harm Reduction Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1261/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1261, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1261/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1261: Youth Prevention and Tobacco Harm Reduction Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1261/)
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