Push To Raise Montana’s Cigarette Tax Is Being Revisited

Could Montana See A Tobacco Tax Increase?

For the first time in more than 20 years, Montana’s tobacco tax could be going up.

Advocates are gearing up for the 2027 legislative session with hopes of raising the cigarette tax by $2 per pack.

Current Montana Cigarette Tax Has Not Changed Since 2005

Right now, the tax sits at $1.70 a pack, and that number hasn’t changed since 2005.

Supporters of the increase say a lot has shifted in the last two decades when it comes to tobacco and how it’s used.

A big part of that is vaping and electronic cigarettes, which weren’t really part of the conversation back when the tax was last updated.

A recent news conference in Helena focused heavily on youth tobacco use in Montana and the concerns surrounding it.

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Poll Shows Majority Of Montanans Support Higher Tobacco Taxes

Students involved in the ReACT campaign also shared personal stories about how tobacco has impacted their lives, including one student recalling seeing a first grader using an e-cigarette.

A poll from the Montana Kids vs. Big Tobacco coalition and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids found that a majority of Montanans actually support raising the tax.

Supporters say higher prices could help discourage new smokers from ever picking up the habit in the first place. Opponents, on the other hand, point back to a failed 2018 ballot initiative that tried to do something similar.

Either way, advocates say they’re not backing down, so this debate is likely going to stick around for a while.

Source: KTVH