CA SCR143

Encourages the Motion Picture Association of America and major film studios to assign an R rating to any new film designed for children or adolescents that depicts smoking or tobacco use, with exceptions only for depictions that clearly show smoking's dangers or portray actual historical figures.

Notes that the CDC found tobacco incidents in PG-13 rated movies increased 57 percent from 2010 to 2017, and that exposure to onscreen smoking causes an estimated 37 percent of new young smokers, making it the number one reason youth start smoking.

Estimates that assigning R ratings to films with tobacco imagery could save over one million children from premature death caused by smoking-related diseases.

Directs the State Department of Public Health, California Attorney General, and other state and local agencies to expand efforts reducing smoking depictions in entertainment and media venues, including movies, video games, social media, and streaming platforms.

Requires the Senate Secretary to transmit copies of the resolution to the State Department of Public Health, California Attorney General, Motion Picture Association of America, major film studios, and film distributors.