Texas House approves bill to cut smokeless tax 34%, and to impose a $.55/pack fee on cigs sold by NPMs.

[Bill Godshall]

Texas House approves (85-53) legislation (HB 3536) to reduce smokeless tobacco tax by 34% (from $1.22 to $.80/ounce), and to impose a $.55/pack fee on cigarettes manufactured by nonparticipants in the State’s settlement with cigarette companies.
Texas Legislature Online - 83(R) History for HB 3536
Texas Legislature Online - 83(R) Text for HB 3536
Texas House Approves Tobacco Tax Bill | KRWG
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/05/06/big-tobacco-beats-small-tobacco-tax-vote/

 

[TennDave]

That's a turn of events!!

 

[woden57]

Gotta love Texas

 

[GetVaked]

Texas love baby

 

[rothenbj]

Now that's a bill heading in the right direction. However, it does have the scent of contribution from the Big 3 in BT.

 

[Vapor Vinny]

Looks like Texas is positioning itself to be America's leader in the manufacture of ecigs and ejuice.

Phase 1 - Create market
Phase 2 - ?
Phase 3 - Profit

 

[Bill Godshall]

Far more moist snuff is sold/consumed in Texas than any other state, with Pennsylvania a distant second.
In fact, more smokeless is consumed in Texas than is consumed in the lowest 20 states all combined.

If this bill passes, smokeless tobacco sales will continue increasing.

Below are 2007 State level smokeless tobacco sales volumes and per capita consumption.
Please note the vast differences between states, that 19 of the 20 states with the highest per capita smokeless consumption voted for McCain in 2008, while the 13 states with the lowest per capita smokeless consumption voted for Obama.

2007 estimated State consumption of Moist Smokeless Tobacco (cans sold)
US Total - 999,945,970
1. TX - 92,779,997
2. PA - 58,848,494
3. OH - 45,316,614
4. FL - 44,115,300
5. TN - 41,743,849
6. GA - 41,700,646
7. NC - 38,769,943
8. AL - 36,530,293
9. KY - 35,730,264
10. CA - 35,601,303
11. MO - 32,340,385
12. VA - 30,849,963
13. OK - 30,219,088
14. LA - 29,715,347
15. MS - 28,727,084
16. IN - 27,729,287
17. WV - 26,660,279
18. IL - 25,929,684
19. AR - 23,933,746
20. MI - 23,772,290
21. CO - 18,611,016
22. WI - 18,553,803
23. SC - 17,764,904
24. KS - 16,713,035
25. MN - 16,446,252
26. NY - 16,063,636
27. AZ - 15,700,064
28. WA - 14,835,688
29. OR - 14,480,792
30. IA - 11,763,890
31. MD - 8,309,882
32. ID - 7,987,882
33. NE - 7,680,889
34. NM - 7,048,755
35. MT - 6,546,093
36. NV - 6,348,137
37. UT - 6,261,498
38. WY - 4,792,647
39. SD - 4,413,707
40. ND - 3,907,422
41. NJ - 3,653,227
42. NH - 3,289,119
43. MA - 3,034,651
44. AK - 2,484,465
45. CT - 2,324,786
46. ME - 2,313,469
47. DE - 1,654,491
48. VT - 1,617,354
49. HI - 1,428,882
50. RI - 626,937
51. DC - 296,993


2007 estimated State per capita consumption of Moist Smokeless Tobacco (cans/person)
1. WV - 14.66
2. MS - 9.86
3. WY - 9.30
4. AR - 8.51
5. KY - 8.49
6. OK - 8.44
7. AL - 7.94
8. LA - 6.92
9. MT - 6.92
10. TN - 6.91
11. ND - 6.14
12. KS - 6.04
13. SD - 5.64
14. MO - 5.53
15. ID - 5.44
16. PA - 4.73
17. GA - 4.45
18. IN - 4.39
19. NC - 4.37
20. NE - 4.34
21. SC - 4.11
22. VA - 4.03
23. OH - 3.94
24. TX - 3.94
25. IA - 3.94
26. CO - 3.91
27. OR - 3.91
28. AK - 3.70
29. NM - 3.60
National Mean - 3.33
30. WI - 3.33
31. NM - 3.18
32. VT - 2.59
33. AZ - 2.54
34. NV - 2.54
35. NH 2.50
36. UT - 2.45
37. FL - 2.43
38. MI - 2.35
39. WA - 2.31
40. IL - 2.02
41. DE - 1.93
42. ME - 1.74
43. MD - 1.47
44. HI - 1.11
45. CA - .97
46. NY - .83
47. CT - .66
48. RI - .58
49. DC - .51
50. MA - .47
51. NJ - .41

 

[sonicdsl]

Bill: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/casaa/416868-texas-law-proposed.html Are they also changing the definition of cigarette?

 

[kristin]

Bill: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/casaa/416868-texas-law-proposed.html Are they also changing the definition of cigarette?

I'm not Bill but I can answer that. They may be changing the definition in the bill, but the intent seems to catch the bidis and other mini cigars that cigarette smokers have been switching to to save money. As I explained in that thread, it does NOT include e-cigarettes because the definition still requires a "cigarette" to contain actual tobacco.

 

[Bill Godshall]

The definition of "cigarette" in HB 3536 does NOT include e-cigarettes.

I read that definition very carefully before posting the first note of this thread.

 

[Uma]

Wow, good for Texans!!!!

 

[MrSato]

go texas!!!

 

[Bill Godshall]

The Texas Senate removed the smokeless tobacco tax decrease from the bill, then the Texas House approved the Senate approved version, and sent it to the governor.
House sends increased Cig Fee-Tax-Depending-On-Who-You-Ask bill to governor | Trail Blazers Blog
Texas Legislature Online - 83(R) Text for HB 3536
Texas Legislature Online - 83(R) History for HB 3536

 

[Placebo Effect]

The Texas Senate removed the smokeless tobacco tax decrease from the bill, then the Texas House approved the Senate approved version, and sent it to the governor.
House sends increased Cig Fee-Tax-Depending-On-Who-You-Ask bill to governor | Trail Blazers Blog
Texas Legislature Online - 83(R) Text for HB 3536
Texas Legislature Online - 83(R) History for HB 3536

Damn. I'm guessing the smokeless tax decrease was in there to ensure that Americans for Tax Reform wouldn't oppose the bill. Apparently the Senators didn't care.

 

[Vapioteque]

I just moved to Texas two weeks ago. So far I haven't had to explain my ecig to a single person. Several have commended my vaping. Two of them doctors. And I've already met seven fellow vapers... and I haven't met many people yet, lol. Like, half the people I've met so far who have noticed my ecig have said they vape too. I moved from Colorado, where they have progressive laws generally, but no one heard of vaping at all in the area I came from. The difference is astounding in Texas, I feel like its the most vape friendly state there is.

 

[Agg33]

I guess I'm glad I'm in Texas then haha

 

[Bewenched]

God I love Texas!

 

[supertrunker]

It has more to do with chewing tobacco than vaping but is a move in the right direction when it seems that everywhere else is looking at ramping up taxes on easy targets. In fact something that "looks" like it may be smoking is even under threat from state level bans and taxes.

It's seldom i look to Texas for a lead on anything much enlightened, but this is a step on the right path. Next week - 'it's a grown Trunker's right to spit and vape if he wants to'. Sign it Perry!

T