Virginia bill would increase tax rates on all smoked tobacco products, but not on moist snuff or chew

[Bill Godshall]

Introduced last week, HB 160 would increase VA's cigarette tax from $.30/pack to $1.45/pack, would keep moist snuff tax at $.18/oz and loose leaf tobacco tax at $.21/unit, and would increase tax on other tobacco products (e.g. cigar, RYO and smoking tobacco) from 10% to 50% (of the manufacturer's price).
Bill Tracking - 2012 session > Legislation

Also, HB 160 would NOT tax e-cigarettes, which aren't currently taxed in Virginia (nor any other state except MN).

 

[Bill Godshall]

Since HB 160 would appropriate some of the new tobacco tax revenue to fund tobacco control programs, it is indeed ironic that the bill would keep the tax on moist snuff and chewing tobacco at currently low levels.

Seems like the sponsor of this bill supports tobacco harm reduction.

 

[Stubby]

That's good news for Virginia with a rational tax policy. I wish we could ship their legislature to Wisconsin which has the highest smokeless tobacco tax in the country.