FRANKFORT- Schools in Kentucky will soon be tobacco-free. 

The Senate passed House Bill 11 on the final day of the legislative session. The measure will ban all tobacco products and vaping on all Kentucky school campuses. School districts will be able to opt-out during the first three years. 

This was a priority bill for Kentucky Youth Advocates, who say the ban can prevent children from ever picking up smoking. 

"HB 11 carries special impact because of the boom in e-cigarette popularity, and that means we're seeing more and more middle and high school students using tobacco products. Young kids are getting hooked on nicotine – an addiction that can last a lifetime and have lasting consequences on healthy development. Prohibiting tobacco use on school campuses creates an environment where smoking cigarettes and e-cigs is not the norm, provides positive adult role modeling, and protects students, staff, and visitors from the harms of secondhand exposure," KYA Executive Director Terry Brooks said in a statement. 

The measure was championed by Rep. Kim Moser, R-Taylor Mill, and Sen. Ralph Alvarado, R-Winchester. It faced an uncertain future after being held up in the House for weeks. 

"Tobacco conversations in Kentucky are complex and bring lots of pressures on our elected leaders, and that is why House Bill 11 is such a profound win for Kentucky's kids," Brooks said. 

The law will go into effect beginning the 2020 school year. The Coalition for a Smoke-Free tomorrow, which is  a group of several organizations, including the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, also celebrated the passage of the bill. 

"When this law goes into effect for the 2020 school year, as many as 275,000 more Kentucky kids will be protected from secondhand smoke and e-cigarette aerosol on Kentucky school campuses. They'll enjoy healthier air to breathe both during the school day and as they attend sporting events and field trips. The message to avoid tobacco will get daily reinforcement in every Kentucky community with signage reminding visitors, staff, and students that Kentucky schools are no place for smoking, vaping, dipping, chewing or any other kind of tobacco use," a statement read. 

The bill now awaits approval from Gov. Matt Bevin.