California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is accepting proposals for the 2025-2026 Tobacco Grant Program. The program will provide approximately $28.5 million in grant funding to local agencies aiming to curb the illegal sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to youth. Eligible applicants include local public agencies in California with authority to enforce state laws or local ordinances related to tobacco sales and marketing.
Attorney General Bonta emphasizes the department's commitment to protecting youth from the dangers of tobacco products. "At the California Department of Justice, we are committed to protecting our youth from the dangers posed by tobacco products." He further urged local agencies to apply for the program, stating, "I encourage local agencies to apply to the Tobacco Grant Program — it is a critical tool that allows us to collaborate and hold accountable those companies and individuals who violate our laws around tobacco products."
A significant concern is the marketing of flavored tobacco products, which are popular among young users. Surveys in 2024 indicated that 87.6% of students who reported using e-cigarettes opted for flavored products. The Tobacco Grant Program supports local partners in enforcing flavor bans, prosecuting violators, and conducting compliance inspections.
This initiative is funded by Proposition 56, the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016. Since its inception, the program has allocated about $212 million to 470 grantees. Recently, Attorney General Bonta announced lawsuits against Flumgio Technology Inc., Berkeley Int’l Business Crew, and their founder, Mr. Zaoyu Zhu. These cases concern illegally imported and marketed e-cigarettes. Bonta also filed lawsuits against two California online e-cigarette retailers for improper verification of consumer age and unlawful remote sales.
To assist interested applicants, DOJ will hold a Zoom webinar on April 30. Information on the application process is available at oag.ca.gov/tobaccogrants.