Wisconsin Lawmakers Revive Bill to Raise Legal Age for Tobacco and Vaping Purchases to 21

Key Points at a Glance

• SB 524 proposes raising Wisconsin’s legal purchasing age for tobacco and electronic nicotine products from 18 to 21, aligning state law with federal requirements.
• Supporters say a unified age threshold would eliminate enforcement confusion caused by inconsistencies between state and federal rules.
• Some retailers in Madison have already voluntarily adopted a 21+ sales policy.
• The American Lung Association urges Wisconsin to strengthen its legislation to address youth risks linked to vaping and flavored nicotine products.

2Firsts, December 4, 2025 — According to Wisconsin local outlet WMTV15 News, Wisconsin Senate Bill 524 (SB 524) has been reintroduced to the state legislature, seeking to raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco and nicotine-containing products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21 in order to align state law with the federal standard.

The Wisconsin Legislature has reopened debate on SB 524, which covers all tobacco items and electronic nicotine devices — including e-cigarettes and e-liquids — and would raise the minimum age for sale, purchase, and possession from 18 to 21. The goal is to bring state statutes into conformity with federal law.

Supporters argue that the proposal would resolve enforcement inconsistencies that have existed since 2019, when federal law increased the minimum age to 21 while Wisconsin’s statute remained unchanged. Retailers and enforcement agencies have since faced conflicting age thresholds and unclear responsibilities.

A manager at a Madison tobacco and THC retail shop said the store has effectively been operating under a “21 and over” policy, which he noted is the norm for many retailers seeking to avoid compliance issues.

The bill’s prospects in the state Senate remain uncertain, as majority leadership has not indicated whether it will support the measure.

Meanwhile, the American Lung Association (ALA), in its 2025 State of Tobacco Control report, again urged Wisconsin to update its state-level regulations to match federal standards, citing the need to reduce the health and economic burden of youth use of e-cigarettes and tobacco.

The ALA noted that Wisconsin scores poorly on several state-level tobacco control measures — including tax levels and cessation coverage — and faces a rapidly expanding market for vaping and flavored nicotine products.

Cover image: Screenshot from WMTV15 News video