Kentucky House Approves Bill Raising Tobacco Taxes
The Kentucky House of Representatives has approved H.B. 32, which would increase the tax on other tobacco products, including cigars, from 15 percent to 25 percent of the wholesale price. It passed by a 75-17 vote.
In the case of a cigar with an MSRP of $9.50, the pre-sales tax cost would increase from $10.93 to $11.88, by halfwheel estimates.
The bill would also tax vaping products at the same rate of 25 percent of the wholesale cost, but it does not affect the tax on cigarettes. Estimates have suggested that should the bill pass, it would raise $50 million in revenue over the next two fiscal years.
H.B. 32 now heads to the Kentucky Senate. If passed and signed into law, the increase would go into effect Aug. 1, 2020.
Patrick Lagreid
I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.
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