Committee reviews H.376 to raise alcohol taxes, add labels and create treatment and recovery fund

Representative Nugent Spill introduced H.376 on April 22 to the Government Operations & Military Affairs committee, proposing higher taxes on alcoholic beverages, new labeling requirements and a state treatment and recovery fund funded by the levies.

Why it matters: The bill pairs public-health-oriented labeling and spending priorities with sizable tax increases. Sponsors say revenue would support treatment, detox and student services; legislative counsel warned parts of the labeling language may be preempted by federal law.

Representative Nugent Spill, the bill sponsor, said the measure would raise excise taxes and direct the revenue to treatment and recovery programs. "So right now, it's like 2¢ a drink, and it would be raised, 6¢. So that would be 8¢ a drink and then 10% on spirits," Nugent Spill said, adding the change is estimated to raise "between 16 and $17,000,000 for the state." She said funds would target detox beds, student services and other treatment supports.

Legislative Counsel Tucker Anderson walked the committee through statutory language and limits. Anderson said the bill would add state-level labeling requirements covering malt, wine and…