Bill > S1312

This bill, titled "To reduce tobacco addiction," proposes to increase excise taxes on various tobacco products and dedicate a portion of the revenue to public health initiatives. Specifically, it imposes a new 105% excise tax on cigars weighing more than 3 pounds per 1,000 units and on smoking tobacco, with the revenue directed to the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund. It also establishes a 45% excise tax on smokeless tobacco, with a portion of its revenue also going to the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund. The bill amends existing laws to ensure that these new excise taxes are applied and collected, and it also adjusts the excise tax rate on cigarettes from 100.5 mills to 163 mills per cigarette. Furthermore, a portion of cigarette excise tax revenues will be credited to the Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention program, with specific percentages outlined for fiscal years 2014 through 2016 and beyond. The bill also mandates that any future changes to the state excise tax rate for cigarettes will trigger a proportional adjustment to the excise tax rates for all other tobacco products, ensuring that these rates move in tandem. Finally, it requires manufacturers, wholesalers, and other tobacco sellers to pay an additional excise tax on any existing inventory of cigarettes and unused stamps that were taxed at the lower previous rate, with all tax collection and administration governed by existing state laws.