NC H543

Establishes the Tobacco Use Prevention Fund within the Department of Health and Human Services to prevent use of new and emerging tobacco products, especially electronic cigarettes, among youth and people of childbearing age.

Appropriates $17,000,000 annually from the Settlement Reserve Fund to the Tobacco Use Prevention Fund, with up to 10% available for administrative costs.

Authorizes fund expenditures for local health department education programs, evidence-based media campaigns, military tobacco prevention initiatives, community college tobacco-free campus grants, tobacco use tracking, technical assistance, and independent program evaluations.

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to submit annual reports to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and Fiscal Research Division by March 1, identifying each expenditure by recipient and purpose.

Becomes effective July 1, 2023.