Tobacco Pricing

State Policy

La Legislature OKs 4-cent cigarette tax renewal (LA)
The four-cent cigarette tax that was vetoed by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal may be renewed. Supporters of the tax have attached it to Senate Bill 53, which is not open to a gubernatorial veto. Senate Bill 53 includes using $40 million in tobacco settlement money and the four-cent cigarette tax to fund college scholarships. The bill has been approved in the Senate and will be sent to voters in October for approval. Read more here.

Deal for $10.3B N.H. budget includes cigarette tax cut (NH)
A budget bill that would lower New Hampshire’s cigarette tax ten cents, from $1.78 per pack down to $1.68 per pack has been agreed upon by the New Hampshire House and Senate. Supporters of House Bill 156 state that a lower tax will increase cross-border cigarette sales because surrounding states have higher per pack taxes. Opponents of the bill state that more adolescents will start smoking due to the decrease in price. Read more here. Update: Despite concerns, N.H. governor won’t veto budget Governor Lynch has stated that despite concerns he raised during the budget negotiation process, he will allow the budget, which includes the ten-cent cigarette tax cut, to become law without his signature. Click here for more details.

Walker vetoes tobacco tax break (WI)
This month, public health advocates in Wisconsin called on Governor Walker to veto a part of the state budget that would make moist tobacco products more affordable by reducing the tax on the products. Currently, all tobacco products are taxed based on a percentage of their price to ensure that all products are taxed equally. Ultimately, the governor vetoed an item in the new state budget that would have taxed products based on their weight, thus lowering the tax on many tobacco products. When vetoing the tax change, he stated his concern that the lower tobacco prices would entice more children to use the products. Read more here, or click here to read about the governor’s veto.

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