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House adopts 18¢ cigarette tax amendment with earmarks after intense floor bargaining
Summary
An 18¢/pack cigarette tax amendment was adopted after negotiations between bill sponsors and industry and included earmarks for smoking‑cessation programs, Huntsman Cancer Institute, the medical school, and $5 million to the general fund (intended for Medicaid though not legally earmarked). Opponents urged directing increases to education instead.
Representative Curtis offered Amendment 15 to the cigarette and tobacco tax bill to raise the cigarette tax by 18¢ per pack, eliminate a tax on other tobacco products, and set aside funds for health programs. Curtis said the industry indicated it would not oppose the bill at the 18¢ level and that the amendment establishes accountability and reporting requirements to the Health and Human Services interim committee for recipients of the money.
Under the amendment language described on the floor, allocations would include $4,500,000 for smoking cessation programs, $1,400,000 to the Huntsman Cancer Institute, $2,900,000 to the University medical school (Medical Education Council/University of Utah Health Sciences Center), and $5,000,000 placed in the general fund with leadership saying the intention was to use it for Medicaid provider reimbursement though the amendment did not legally earmark that money. Representative Curtis said leaders from both parties agreed on the 18¢ increase and the allocation split, but that some earmarks still required further negotiation with the Senate.
Opponents including Representative Farren criticized using a new tax to fund programs when roughly $48 million a year in existing tobacco revenues already goes into the general fund and could be reallocated. Representative Saunders and others defended the negotiations and the accountability provisions. The amendment was put to a vote and the floor record shows a broad series of 'ayes' in favor; sponsors said the package improved accountability and secured industry acquiescence at the stated rate.
