North Carolina lawmakers have introduced House Bill 430, also known as “Solly’s Law,” in a bipartisan effort to address the growing concern of vaping and tobacco use among teenagers. The bill, introduced on Wednesday, aims to raise the legal sales age of tobacco products to 21 and require a tobacco retail sales permit.
Rep. Donnie Loftis, R-Gaston, emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, “North Carolina is one of only seven remaining states that has not raised the age to 21. This is important because 95% of tobacco users start before the age of 21, risking a lifetime of addiction and chronic disease.”
The bill is named after “Solly” Wynn, a high school football player who died at the age of 15 after being hospitalized for illnesses related to vaping. Charlene Zorn, Wynn’s stepmother, shared her stepson’s story, describing how he went from a “healthy high school freshman” to a “sick kid almost overnight” before his tragic death in June 2023.
Zorn expressed her gratitude for the lawmakers’ decision to sponsor a bill in her stepson’s honor, saying, “Do I wish we weren’t doing this? Absolutely. But it has to be done.”
The bill has also garnered support from teenagers who have witnessed the impact of vaping and tobacco use in their schools firsthand. Harley Lanier, a student from East Duplin High School, described the situation in high school bathrooms as “a cloud” where “you can’t breathe,” causing students to be late for class and creating a “whole big ordeal.”
Lanier and fellow student Madison Kornegay expressed their concerns about the long-term effects of vapes and nicotine products on their classmates, hoping that the bill will be passed and ultimately make a difference in young people’s lives. Kornegay stated, “It affects every part of their body and they don’t understand what they’re doing. We just want to really protect them.”
As the bill makes its way through the legislature, it may undergo various changes before potentially passing through both chambers and becoming law. The introduction of “Solly’s Law” follows the recent introduction of a new proposed concealed carry bill and a bill addressing DEI hiring in North Carolina.
- News Source: NC lawmakers to introduce vaping legislation
- Teen Zyn Use Soars as Vaping Declines Slightly: Study - May 2, 2025
- Uzbekistan Senate Approves Ban on E-cigarette Import and Sale - April 30, 2025
- Louisiana Lawmakers Propose Higher Vape Taxes - April 25, 2025