Steep Increase In Tobacco Taxes Proposed In Wyoming Legislature
A bill to more than double the state taxes on tobacco products sold in Wyoming is being proposed in the Wyoming Legislature.
House Bill 218 would increase the state excise tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes by a dollar, from the current $0.60 to $1.60. The tax would go up on an ounce of moist snuff by a dollar as well, while the state tax on cigars, snuff and other tobacco products would go up by 166 2/3 percent.
The fiscal note attached to the bill estimates the cigarette tax increase would raise about $22.7 million per year for the state's General Fund and about $4 million for local governments, while the cigar and moist snuff tax increase would raise another $9.1 million for the general fund.
But the bill's fiscal note also says it's difficult to be sure of how much money the proposed increases would actually raise since the higher taxes could also reduce consumption of cigarettes purchased in Wyoming by both residents and non-residents.
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Dan Zwonitzer (R-Laramie County).