Montana Advocates Push for $2 Tobacco Tax Increase in 2027
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and the Montana Kids vs. Big Tobacco coalition have announced a major campaign to pass a $2-per-pack tobacco tax increase during the 2027 Montana legislative session. Unveiled at a press conference in Helena, the initiative aims to address a stagnant tax rate unchanged since 2005 and curb rising youth nicotine use across the state.
High school advocates from the ReACT youth coalition highlighted the urgent need for action. Students reported witnessing peers as young as first grade using e-cigarettes. Lily Simkins, a junior at Powell County High School, noted that over half of her church youth group has been caught with nicotine or THC products, stating that “raising a tax could save lives.”
Denver Henderson, Montana government relations director for ACS CAN, emphasized that the 2005 tax law failed to anticipate the modern vaping market. Advocates are pushing to expand the tax to include electronic cigarettes, aligning them with traditional tobacco products to discourage teen use.
| Product Category | Current Montana Tax Rate | Proposed Tax Rate (2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes (per pack) | $1.70 (Set in 2005) | $3.70 (+$2.00 increase) |
| Other Tobacco Products | Varies by product | Equivalent to the $2.00 cigarette increase |
| E-Cigarettes / Vapes | No state-level excise tax | Equivalent to the $2.00 cigarette increase |
Montana voters previously rejected a similar tax hike (Initiative 185) in 2018, which would have funded Medicaid expansion. However, advocates argue that growing fiscal needs and the youth vaping crisis have shifted public opinion. A newly released poll shows a majority of respondents now favor raising the tax.
While previous legislative efforts to increase tobacco taxes failed in committee last year, advocates view the 2027 session as a “win-win” opportunity to generate state revenue, reduce long-term healthcare costs, and prevent a new generation from falling into nicotine addiction.
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