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Committee hears divided testimony on proposal to raise cigarette tax and extend tax to vaping products
Summary
Senate Bill 22‑81 would raise the cigarette tax by 25¢ per pack and impose an ad‑valorem tax on e‑cigarettes and oral nicotine pouches; public‑health advocates and tobacco‑control groups supported parity while retailers, industry groups and some business owners warned of regressivity and a black market.
Senate Bill 22‑81 would raise the cigarette excise tax by 25¢ per pack, add a comparable tax on cigars, and apply an ad‑valorem wholesale tax to electronic nicotine products and oral nicotine pouches. Sponsor Kathy Hogan told the committee the proposal aims to reduce youth vaping and provide funding to local public‑health units and 988 crisis‑intervention services.
"Taxation is an effective method to improve health outcomes by reducing use," Senator Kathy Hogan said, citing the Youth Risk Behavior Survey showing elevated vaping rates among North Dakota students. She described the proposed approach as conservative compared with CDC best practices but said a modest increase would still make a difference for youth affordability.
Heather Austin of…
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