Tobacco Grant Program

The Tobacco Grant Program is administered by the California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General and is funded through the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016, also known as Proposition 56. This legislation increased taxes on tobacco products and allocated a portion of the revenue to support enforcement efforts aimed at reducing illegal tobacco sales and marketing to minors. Since its inception in 2017, the program has distributed significant funding to local agencies to strengthen statewide tobacco control enforcement. The program is designed to enhance local capacity to enforce tobacco laws, particularly those targeting youth access and illegal retail practices. The primary purpose of the Tobacco Grant Program is to support local law enforcement and public agencies in reducing illegal retail sales and marketing of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to minors and youth. Funded activities focus on enforcement actions such as compliance checks, retailer inspections, undercover operations, and prosecution of violations. The program emphasizes strengthening enforcement infrastructure and coordination among agencies, rather than education or prevention campaigns. Activities unrelated to retail enforcement, such as school-based education or community outreach campaigns, are explicitly excluded from funding consideration. Funding for the program is provided as a reimbursement grant, meaning that awarded agencies must incur eligible expenses and then request reimbursement from the Department of Justice. An estimated 28.5 million dollars is available for the current funding cycle. Grant amounts are determined based on the strength and scope of the submitted proposals rather than fixed award tiers. Projects may be funded for either 24 or 36 months, with start dates ranging from November 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027, and all projects must conclude by June 30, 2030. Allowable expenditures must be reasonable, necessary, and directly tied to enforcement activities aligned with program priorities. Eligibility is limited to local public agencies within the State of California that have authority to enforce tobacco-related laws or ordinances. Eligible entities include police and sheriff departments, city and district attorneys, county counsels, public health departments, and other government agencies with enforcement authority. Ineligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, tribal agencies, and individuals. Applicants may partner with other agencies, but the lead applicant must meet eligibility requirements and demonstrate enforcement authority. Applications must be submitted through the Department of Justice’s online system using the required forms and templates. Required components include a completed proposal form, a detailed budget using the prescribed template, and letters of commitment for any partner agencies involved in the project. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend a pre-application webinar to better understand program requirements and priorities. The application process requires detailed information on project design, personnel, budget justification, and agency capacity, along with certifications and compliance assurances. Proposals undergo a multi-step evaluation process beginning with an administrative review to ensure compliance with submission requirements, followed by a merits review conducted by a committee of Department of Justice representatives. Applications are scored based on criteria including the significance of the problem addressed, the quality of the proposed project, personnel qualifications, budget reasonableness, and organizational capacity. Final funding decisions are made by the Attorney General or a designated representative, taking into account committee recommendations and broader programmatic considerations. The application period opens on April 20, 2026 and closes on June 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Award decisions are expected around October or November 2026, with projects beginning as early as November 2026. The program is offered annually, and applicants may reapply in future cycles. Questions regarding the application process can be directed to the program’s official email contact. Overall, the Tobacco Grant Program represents a competitive funding opportunity focused on enhancing enforcement capacity to reduce youth access to tobacco products across California.

Focus on demonstrating strong enforcement capacity and alignment with priority activities ensure budget justification is clear and tied to enforcement outcomes