Destructive tobacco, cigar, vaping taxes hearings this week

By In the news
In: Uncategorized
Monday April 8, 2019


By Taxpayer Association of Oregon,
OregonWatchdog.com

This week there are a trio of bad bills dealing with product taxes. 

The tobacco tax bill, Hb 2270, would increase cigarette taxes by nearly 200% which by all expert accounts would drive cigarette sales into the black market.  This black market and avoidance sales have risen dramatically in Washington and California causing lost revenues and little change in smoking.  The cigar tax bill, HB 2158, would bust the long standing 50-cent cigar tax to allow a steeper and higher percentage tax.  Already cigars in Oregon are more expensive than online sales which means this bill would destroy dozens of cigar shops and jobs in Oregon and hand the businesses to out-of-state retailers who will be avoiding the tax.

The vaping tax bills would increase taxes on vaping. Many people use vaping to quit smoking tobacco, so this tax actually hurts people trying to quit smoking.   Here are the bills being heard this Wednesday and Thursday in the House Revenue Committee in the Salem State Capitol.

House Revenue:

4/11/2019 8:30 AM, HR A

PLEASE NOTE:8:30 AM Start Time

  • Public Hearing
    • HB 2123 Expands definition of “tobacco products” for purpose of taxation to include inhalant form nicotine.
    • HB 2158 Removes per cigar limitation on cigar tax.
    • HB 2159 Imposes tax on distribution of inhalant product based on percentage of wholesale sales price.
    • HB 2169 Imposes tax on distribution of inhalant product based on percentage of wholesale sales price.
    • HB 2270 Increases tax on distribution of cigarettes.
4/11/2019 8:30 AM, HR A
PLEASE NOTE: 8:30 AM Start Time
  • Public Hearing
    • HB 2123 Expands definition of “tobacco products” for purpose of taxation to include inhalant form nicotine.
    • HB 2158 Removes per cigar limitation on cigar tax.
    • HB 2159 Imposes tax on distribution of inhalant product based on percentage of wholesale sales price.
    • HB 2169 Imposes tax on distribution of inhalant product based on percentage of wholesale sales price.
    • HB 2270 Increases tax on distribution of cigarettes.
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