Bill > HB718

This bill modifies existing Missouri state law regarding the taxation of cigarettes and tobacco products by removing a previous prohibition on local governments increasing tobacco taxes and replacing it with a new provision that allows political subdivisions (such as counties, cities, towns, and municipalities) to increase tobacco taxes, but only after receiving approval from a majority of qualified voters in that specific political subdivision through a local vote. The bill effectively shifts the power to raise tobacco taxes from being exclusively a state-level decision to allowing local jurisdictions to potentially increase such taxes, contingent upon direct voter approval. By requiring a public referendum, the bill ensures that any local tax increases on cigarettes and tobacco products must have explicit support from the local electorate before being implemented.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB718&year=2025&code=R