On Friday, youth from several local schools and supporters of a tobacco-free Hawaii gathered in a room where Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen signed a bill that brings the county one step closer to a potential tobacco ban.

Bill 156 essentially would prohibit retailers from selling or marketing flavored tobacco products and mislabeling products as nicotine-free, and also includes fines.

According to the bill, the ordinance would take effect 42 days after a repeal of any state statutes related to preempting county ordinances on the sale of tobacco products occurs.

In attendance to the signing were members of the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai’i, Boys and Girls Club of Maui, Friends of the Children’s Justice, Youth from Pōmaika’i Elementary School, Maui High School, Baldwin High School, BSA TROOP 49, Aloha Council Maui Family YMCA, and Miss Lokelani USA as well as Miss Valley Isle Teen USA.

Maui County joins the city and county of Honolulu and Hawaii County in the effort to end the sale of flavored tobacco for the state and to restore their local authority so Bill 156 and the other county bills may go into effect.