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NATO NEWS
BY TOM BRIANT
W
ith summer now officially concluded, the vast major-
ity of state legislatures have adjourned for the year.
Meanwhile, local governments continue to consider
a multiplying number of restrictive tobacco ordinances.
Cigarette and Tobacco Tax Increases
This year, 22 states considered bills to increase cigarette and/
or tobacco product tax rates. Three states passed and enacted
tax increases, including Louisiana (22 cents per pack cigarette
tax increase); Pennsylvania ($1 per pack cigarette tax increase,
a new OTP tax rate of 55 cents per ounce that excludes cigars,
and a new tax on electronic cigarettes and e-liquids at a rate of
40 percent of the wholesale price); and West Virginia (65 cents
per pack cigarette tax increase, another 5 percent tax rate hike
on OTP, and an excise tax on e-cigarettes and vapor products at
the rate of 7.5 cents per ml of nicotine).
The 19 states that have considered bills to raise cigarette and
tobacco taxes but have not yet passed any legislation are Alaska,
2016
Tobacco
Legislative
Roundup
18
TOBACCO BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016