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Committee rejects tax increase on nicotine pouches; do-pass fails, do-not-pass adopted
Summary
The Finance and Taxation Committee voted first to fail a do-pass motion on House Bill 15-70 (a proposed tax on nicotine pouches) and then voted to recommend a do-not-pass. Members expressed divided views on sin taxes, addiction and effectiveness of taxation as deterrence.
The Finance and Taxation Committee took up House Bill 15-70, a measure that would increase taxes on nicotine pouches, and after debate the committee first failed a do-pass recommendation and then adopted a do-not-pass recommendation.
Representative Steiner moved for a due-pass on HB 15-70; the motion failed on an initial roll call that the clerk recorded as 3-11-0 in opposition to a do-pass. Representative Olson then moved a do-not-pass recommendation; the committee adopted the do-not-pass motion and the clerk recorded the final tally as 11-3-0 in favor of do-not-pass.
Debate reflected contrasting views. Representative Coleman said he opposed higher taxes on ZYN pouches and nicotine products on principle and questioned singling out nicotine when other legal stimulants such as caffeine are widely used; he said ZYN pouches can be a harm-reduction alternative to smoking. Representative Anderson said he planned to resist the do-pass motion and expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of sin taxes.
Representative Nehring framed the issue as one of addiction and questioned whether it is appropriate to penalize addicted individuals with higher taxes. Representative Vista supported the increase, citing statistics that higher taxes can reduce consumption; Vista also noted the presence of retailers during the hearing as evidence that higher taxes would affect sales.
The clerk read roll calls for both votes. For the failed do-pass the clerk recorded: Chairman Hedlund — No; Vice Chair Haggart — No; Representative Anderson — No; Representative Doctor — No; Representative Dressler — No; Representative Greenheck — No; Representative Machtenbacher — No; Representative Nehring — No; Representative Olson — No; Representative Porter — No; Representative Steiner — Yes; Representative Toman — No; Representative Foss — Yes; Representative Istiff — Yes. The clerk later read the do-not-pass roll as carried 11-3-0.
Why it matters: The committee’s do-not-pass recommendation kills the bill at the committee level for now, delaying any potential tax change on nicotine pouches. Members’ comments show the policy’s divide: some view taxation as a public-health tool that reduces use, others see it as regressive or ineffective and raised harm-reduction arguments.
What’s next: With a committee recommendation of do-not-pass, HB 15-70 does not advance from the Finance and Taxation Committee at this time unless reintroduced or reconsidered later.
