NC H561

Establishes a Tobacco Use Prevention Fund within the Department of Health and Human Services, funded by $17 million annually from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, effective July 1, 2025

Targets prevention of electronic cigarette and emerging tobacco product use among youth and people of childbearing age, citing a 1,129% increase in e-cigarette use among NC high school students between 2011 and 2019

Authorizes fund expenditures for local health department programs, evidence-based media campaigns, community college grants for tobacco-free campuses, and military readiness initiatives through tobacco cessation

Limits administrative costs to 10% of annual appropriations and requires unused funds to carry forward to the next fiscal year

Mandates annual reporting by March 1 to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services detailing all expenditures by recipient and purpose