Sponsors (4)
The bill reduces secondhand smoke exposure and safety risks at VHA facilities and creates a clear, uniform policy, but it restricts on-site tobacco use for veterans—causing withdrawal/inconvenience for users and imposing enforcement burdens and perceived autonomy losses.
Veterans, patients, and residents will have reduced exposure to secondhand smoke on VHA premises, improving respiratory and cardiovascular health.
VHA hospitals and staff will face fewer smoke-related fire risks and improved indoor air quality, enhancing workplace safety.
Veterans, visitors, and contractors will have a uniform smoking policy across VHA facilities, simplifying rules and reducing confusion about where smoking is allowed.
Veterans who use combustible tobacco or e-cigarettes will lose the ability to smoke on VHA grounds, causing inconvenience and possible withdrawal symptoms if no additional cessation support is provided.
Hospitals and VHA staff may need to divert time and resources to enforce the ban and manage violations, creating administrative and operational burdens.
Some veterans may perceive the ban as a loss of personal autonomy or reduced access to previously permitted tobacco use during inpatient stays.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits smoking and e-cigarette use on all Veterans Health Administration facility premises and repeals the authority to furnish tobacco to hospitalized veterans.
Official title: Amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 25, 2025 by Richard Joseph Durbin · Last progress June 25, 2025
Prohibits smoking and use of electronic nicotine delivery systems anywhere on the premises of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities and removes the prior law authorizing VA to furnish tobacco to hospitalized veterans. The bill defines covered VHA facilities and broad definitions of “smoke” to include combustible tobacco and e-cigarettes, and repeals the statutory authority that previously allowed furnishing tobacco to veterans in VA care. The change applies across VHA-controlled sites (medical centers, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, outpatient clinics, and readjustment counseling centers) and covers veterans, patients, residents, VA employees, contractors, and visitors on VHA premises.