HAWAII COUNTY – The mayor of Hawaii County signed legislation that increases the tobacco buying age to 21, which will go into effect July 1, 2014, West Hawaii Today reports. The Hawaii County Council unanimously approved the bill last month after three hearings with testimony from supporters, opponents and high school students from Kealakehe High School, who pressed for the change.

“It showed courage, it showed vision, it showed commitment, but most of all, it showed our collaborative commitment to our children, to our future,” said Mayor Billy Kenoi at the signing ceremony. “This is really a very important piece of legislation because it speaks to our health, it speaks to quality of life of our children and it speaks to our priorities.”

Hawaii County joins New York City, and Needham and Canton, Mass., that have 21 age restriction on tobacco sales. Four states—Utah, New Jersey, Alaska and Alabama—require tobacco buyers to be 19. Several other counties and states, including Texas, are considering similar measures.

While the young people can still smoke in Hawaii County, the bill forbids retailers from selling tobacco products, including cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and cigars, to anyone under 21. The fines for violations range from $500 to $2,000.