Key Points
Senate Bill 1571 passed the Oregon Senate on a 26–1 vote.
The bill redefines tobacco products to include nicotine pouches.
Sales to individuals under 21 would be explicitly prohibited under state law.
The measure removes a proposed ban on online tobacco sales.
The bill now advances to the Oregon House.
2Firsts, February 22, 2026
According to Oregon Capital Chronicle, The Oregon Senate has passed Senate Bill 1571, legislation aimed at closing a regulatory gap concerning nicotine pouch products.
The bill, approved in a 26–1 vote on Friday, redefines tobacco products under Oregon law to include nicotine pouches. Under current state law, nicotine pouches are not classified as tobacco products, allowing retailers without tobacco licenses to sell them and subjecting them to fewer restrictions than cigarettes and vaping devices.
Sen. Lisa Reynolds, D-Portland, the bill’s sponsor, said the legislation addresses what she described as a loophole enabling youth access. Federal law already prohibits the sale of nicotine products to individuals under 21, and the bill would align Oregon statute with that standard.
Supporters cited rising youth usage of nicotine pouch products. A University of Southern California study found that twice as many teenagers reported using nicotine pouches in 2024 compared to 2023.
More than 70 individuals and organizations submitted written testimony on the bill, including representatives from local public health departments and youth advocacy groups, with most expressing support.
An earlier version of the bill included a provision prohibiting online sales of tobacco products and requiring face-to-face transactions. That section was removed in the amended version passed by the Senate.
The amended bill previously passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and now heads to the Oregon House for further consideration.
(Cover Image source: oregonlegislature.gov)
This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.
