SB 702 Hearing — Flavor ban to cost $200M

SB 702 would ban flavored nicotine products and cost Oregon nearly $200 million
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

SB 702 would ban flavored nicotine products like vaping, hookahs and cigarettes and has a Salem Capitol hearing on Tues. March 4th.

A SB 702 flavor ban would cause a big drop in tobacco tax revenue.

One estimate puts it at nearly $200 million in tobacco tax health care dollars that would be lost.

That means the Oregon Health department would look to raise more taxes and fees to make up for the lost $100 million revenue if SB 702 passed.

In 2023, the Oregon Health Department witnessed 77 fee increases totaling $17 million.   At this rate, the Oregon Health Department would need to raise 385 fees to make up the difference of a $100 million loss of healthcare dollars.

Flavor bans like SB 702 will boost the black market.  One estimate put the current number of illegal sales of tobacco products at 1 of 4 of all sales.   That means Oregon would lose much of the $100 million in current health care tax dollars to criminal smugglers.

Also, people find that vaping products are the #1 way that they are able to quit cigarette smoking.

Please submit an online testimony at the State Capitol here and click the “register to testify” tab on top.

SB 702 summary reads; “Digest: The Act bans the sale of flavored products with tobacco or nicotine. (Flesch Readability Score: 67.7). Prohibits distributing, selling, attempting to sell or offering to sell flavored inhalant delivery system products or flavored tobacco products in this state. Defines “flavored inhalant delivery system product” and “flavored tobacco product.” Prohibits distributing, offering or providing, without compensation, any tobacco product or inhalant delivery system. Requires any sale of cigarettes, inhalant delivery systems or smokeless tobacco products to occur at licensed premises. Authorizes local governments to adopt regulations that are stricter than state law on the sale of inhalant delivery system products or tobacco products.Declares an emergency, effective on passage.”

— Was this helpful? If so, Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).