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Advocates urge $1 tobacco tax increase to fund youth mental‑health services; committee to take testimony
Summary
Public‑health and education advocates urged the House Education Committee to back a $1 per pack cigarette tax increase (with proportional rises on other tobacco products) and to dedicate the revenue to youth outpatient mental‑health services; the committee agreed to take testimony.
Representatives from tobacco‑control and health groups urged the House Education Committee to support a $1 increase in the state cigarette tax, with equivalent increases across other tobacco products, and to dedicate the estimated revenue (about $9.7–10 million) to youth mental‑health and counseling programs.
Darren, identifying himself as representing the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (and the Coalition for Tobacco Free Vermont), read a letter signed by 21 organizations asking lawmakers to “increase the state’s cigarette tax by at least $1 per pack with equivalent increases across all other tobacco products.” The letter summarized Vermont data on youth mental‑health and tobacco use and said estimated revenue of roughly $9.7 million could be dedicated to outpatient youth mental‑health programming.
Speakers cited state health data and cost estimates during the presentation: tobacco‑related annual health care costs were stated at $404 million, with $94 million borne by Medicaid; the letter quoted CDC and state estimates that a $1 tax rise could reduce smoking and generate revenue to support prevention and treatment. Advocates framed the proposal as a way to reduce youth tobacco initiation, motivate adult cessation, and provide resources to schools and communities facing rising mental‑health needs.
Committee members said they would take testimony and discuss possible vehicles for the proposal, including referral to the Finance Committee or finding a bill vehicle. Some members signaled concern about raising new taxes and urged examination of existing spending and reallocation options; others said a tobacco tax has precedent as a public‑health revenue source and cited recent proposals to dedicate cannabis revenue to substance‑use prevention.
Next steps: the committee agreed to take testimony from public‑health groups, school nurses, and other advocates and to coordinate with Finance staff on budget implications. No formal vote or motion was recorded.
