Senate Resolution No. by Senator Mizell establishes the Youth Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation Task Force in response to the increasing public health concern regarding nicotine use among individuals under the age of twenty-one. The resolution highlights alarming statistics from the Louisiana Department of Health, indicating a significant percentage of youth, particularly high school students, are current tobacco users, with e-cigarette use notably rising. The task force aims to study the effects of all tobacco and nicotine products on this demographic, considering the well-documented health risks associated with early nicotine exposure, including impacts on brain development and increased addiction likelihood.

The task force will consist of various stakeholders, including state officials, health organizations, and educational representatives, and will focus on identifying the prevalence of tobacco and nicotine use among youth, as well as exploring effective prevention and cessation strategies. This includes examining existing public health data, case studies, and research on the impacts of nicotine use, as well as evaluating successful programs from other states. The task force is tasked with reporting its findings and recommendations to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare by January 1, 2026, with the goal of developing actionable strategies tailored to Louisiana's youth population while considering the rights of responsible adult users.