The Fresno County Department of Public Health and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday that they have been awarded $1.998 million from the California Department of Justice to strengthen local efforts to reduce illegal tobacco sales and curb youth access to tobacco products.
Grant to fund enforcement, education and training through 2029
Funded by Proposition 56 — the 2016 ballot measure that added a $2-per-pack cigarette tax — the grant will support activities running through June 30, 2029. County officials said the money will be used to expand enforcement of the state’s flavored tobacco ban, conduct minor decoy operations, provide retailer education, coordinate task-force activity, and train officers on tobacco-related laws and ordinances.
Officials framed the grant as a combined public-health and law-enforcement response to persistent availability and marketing of flavored tobacco and e-cigarette products that appeal to people under 21.
“The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is committed to protecting our youth and supporting a healthier community,” Sheriff John Zanoni said. “This grant provides valuable resources that will help us work alongside the Fresno County Department of Public Health to ensure compliance with state tobacco laws, reduce underage access to tobacco and e-cigarette products, and educate retailers about their responsibilities under the law.”
Department of Public Health Director Joe Prado also praised the award, underscoring the county’s priority to prevent youth nicotine addiction through a combination of enforcement and outreach.
Local context: why the funding matters
California’s flavored tobacco ban has not eliminated flavored products from the market, county officials noted. Statewide research cited by Fresno County found that among California students who used e-cigarettes in 2024, 89.5% reported using flavored products. County data also indicate that more than half of students in Fresno County live within close proximity to tobacco retailers — a factor officials say raises the chance of exposure to tobacco marketing and trial.
Fresno County pointed to research showing that exposure to tobacco marketing increases the likelihood that minors will try tobacco products by 60%. The new grant aims to reduce that exposure by targeting retailers who sell flavored and other restricted products and by curbing illegal sales to underage buyers.
- Grant amount: $1.998 million
- Funding source: California Department of Justice, Tobacco Grant Program (Prop. 56)
- Project period: through June 30, 2029
- Main activities: enforcement, decoy operations, retailer education, training, task-force coordination
How enforcement will be structured
While the agencies did not release a detailed operational plan, Fresno County said the funding will bolster current flavored-tobacco ban enforcement and expand minor decoy operations — undercover stings in which decoys who are underage or appear underage attempt to purchase tobacco to test retailer compliance. The grant will also fund training so that law-enforcement personnel and county staff can apply state and local ordinances effectively.
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Enforcement | Reduce illegal sales and violations of flavored tobacco ban |
| Minor decoy operations | Test retailer compliance with age-of-sale laws |
| Retailer education | Inform retailers of legal responsibilities and penalties |
| Training | Equip officers and staff with updated legal and procedural knowledge |
Officials said the combination of enforcement and education is intended to address supply-side drivers of youth tobacco access, while coordinated task-force work aims to concentrate resources in high-risk areas.
What to watch next
Residents and community organizations can expect to see increased enforcement activity, including compliance checks at retail locations and outreach to merchants about the flavored-tobacco restrictions. The county has not released a timeline for specific operations or the neighborhoods that will be targeted first.
Public-health leaders said they view the grant as an investment in long-term prevention of youth nicotine addiction, while law enforcement emphasized the public-safety benefits of reducing illegal sales. The Fresno County Department of Public Health and the Sheriff’s Office plan to coordinate the work supported by the grant and will provide updates as programs roll out.
