Carson City, Nev. — Advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network urged Nevada lawmakers this week to adopt significant increases to tobacco and nicotine product taxes, proposing changes they say would boost revenue while reducing smoking and youth nicotine use.
The proposals
The group recommended nearly doubling Nevada’s cigarette tax from the current rate of $1.80 per pack to $3.55 per pack. At the same time, they asked legislators to raise excise rates on e‑cigarettes, vapes, cigars and nicotine pouches from the current 30% level to 47%.
| Current tax | Proposed tax | Estimated annual revenue |
|---|---|---|
| $1.80 per pack (cigarettes) | $3.55 per pack (cigarettes) | +$51 million (cigarette increase) |
| 30% (e‑cigs, vapes, pouches, cigars) | 47% (parity increase) | Combined proposal: >$65 million |
Advocates’ arguments and timing
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network told members of the Nevada Legislature’s interim Revenue Committee on Wednesday that the combined tax changes would produce more than $65 million a year and said the public‑health benefits — including reductions in smoking and prevention of youth addiction — are the primary motivation.
"It's going to raise revenue and it's going to help those public health outcomes. So we see this as a way for Nevada to do a lot of different projects, raise revenue, and help people at the same time," said Jennifer Atlas, government affairs director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Atlas told reporters and committee members that modest tax increases often have limited effect on tobacco use, while steeper hikes are likelier to encourage quitting and deter initiation. She emphasized parity across tobacco and nicotine products to prevent consumers from switching from cigarettes to vapes or other products.
What comes next
The regular Nevada legislative session convenes Feb. 1, 2027. Advocates said they want the Senate Revenue and Economic Development Committee to sponsor the measure. Because the proposal would alter tax policy, passage could require a heightened vote threshold depending on how it is structured.
- Current cigarette tax: $1.80 per pack, ranking 26th nationally.
- Advocates estimate the cigarette increase alone would generate about $51 million annually.
- Combined tax adjustments on cigarettes and other nicotine products are projected to exceed $65 million per year.
Lawmakers weighing the proposal will consider revenue priorities, public‑health data and the political feasibility of sizable tax increases. Lawmakers on the interim committee heard the advocacy pitch this week; formal bill drafting and committee sponsorship would be required before the measure could be debated in 2027.
For Nevadans, the debate raises tradeoffs between raising new state revenue that proponents say could fund public programs and the impacts of higher prices on smokers, retailers and cross‑border purchasing. The Cancer Action Network framed its pitch as both fiscal and preventive, emphasizing anticipated declines in smoking and reduced youth uptake if taxes rise substantially.
News Block will follow developments as legislators consider whether to introduce the measures in the 2027 session and report on any fiscal analyses, committee actions and public hearings that could shape the proposal.
