Shaayan Sinha, a student at Glencoe High School in Hillsboro, took action against vaping in school. He noticed classmates vaping in restrooms, causing anxiety, and fear. Sinha proposed Senate Bill 544, requiring high schools with over 1,500 students to install vaping-detection devices. He convinced state senator Janeen Sollman to sponsor the bill and is lobbying for support. Sinha faced adversity but learned about the legislative process. The bill is in the Senate Education Committee.
Sinha gathered data on youth e-cigarette use, finding alarming statistics. State health officials warn about addiction and the link between vaping and smoking. Vaping is banned in schools, but it’s hard to detect without specialized equipment. Sinha pitched the bill to Sollman, who encouraged him to present it himself. The bill doesn’t identify funding and may be seen as an unfunded mandate for schools.
Despite potential opposition, Sinha believes the bill would help schools enforce policies and not criminalize vaping. He aspires to be a neurosurgeon but aims to solve the prevalent issue of vaping in his community. Sinha’s venture into politics could shape his future career. The bill may impact about three dozen high schools in Oregon. School districts can seek funding sources, like grants, to implement the vaping detectors.
Sinha’s determination to address vaping in schools through legislation has gained attention and highlights the impact students can have in bringing about change in their communities.
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