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South Dakota Senate approves cut to tobacco prevention fund from $5M to $2M
Summary
The South Dakota Senate passed Senate Bill 54 to reduce the annual transfer to the Tobacco Prevention and Reduction Fund from $5,000,000 to $2,000,000. Supporters called it a budget 'right sizing'; opponents warned it will undermine prevention efforts aimed at youth and Medicaid clients.
Senate Bill 54, which reduces the annual transfer into the state Tobacco Prevention and Reduction Fund from $5,000,000 to $2,000,000, passed the South Dakota Senate on a 21-14 vote on Feb. 20, 2025.
The bill’s sponsor told senators the change is justified by falling tobacco use and called it a “right sizing” of the program’s budget. Opponents said reducing prevention funding risks reversing recent progress in youth and Medicaid tobacco-use statistics and urged lawmakers to preserve the $5 million commitment voters expected when the tax was increased in 2006.
Senator Howard, speaking as sponsor, said, “This will reduce that 5,000,000 down to 2,000,000.” He described declining tobacco-use rates in state surveys and argued the Department of…
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