Trying to increase Kentucky taxes on cigarettes

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State legislator trying to increase taxes on cigarettes

Smokers and other tobacco users in Kentucky would pay $1 more per pack under legislation proposed by a Republican state senator ahead of the upcoming General Assembly.

The bill, pre-filed Thursday by Sen. Stephen Meredith of Leitchfield, earmarks 90 percent of those revenues to a newly created fund to reimburse the state’s Medicaid program for money spent on tobacco-related illnesses.

"It's been since 2009 when KY last had a cigarette tax increase. There have been efforts since then, but none of them have passed," said Meredith.

The remaining revenues would be sent to health departments in counties that have enacted smoking ordinances to fund tobacco-cessation programs.

The $1 increases also would apply to packages of chewing tobacco and tins of loose snuff. The legislation, however, does not appear to target electronic cigarettes.

At this point, there's no indication on how much support the proposed tax increase has among politicians in the state assembly.

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