Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases the tax on tobacco products.

Highlights:

• Increases the tax for packs of 20 cigarettes to $3.20 (Sec. 3).

• Requires a tax of 74% of the wholesale price, to the wholesaler, of all tobacco products other than cigarettes and moist snuff (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that tobacco products also include substances that do not contain nicotine, including e-cigarettes, e-pipes, vape pens, or e-hookahs (Sec. 2).

• Requires the extra revenue from taxes collected to be allotted to the state general fund, up to $3 million, and the remainder to the health and Medicaid initiatives account (Sec. 5).

• Requires the amount of taxes from the increased tax rates be used to provide an increase in wages for Medicaid direct-care workers, paying them $10.80 by October 1, 2017 and $13.80 by October 1, 2018 (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text