OLYMPIA, Wash. – A new bill to expand the taxation of nicotine products is moving through the Washington State Legislature.
The bill, HB 2033, sponsored by Representative Monica Jurado Stonier (D-Vancouver), seeks to include nicotine products such as ZYN Nicotine Pouches in the existing “other tobacco products” (OTP) tax, which currently applies to various tobacco products.
The bill would expand the definitions of “moist snuff” and “tobacco products” to cover products containing nicotine, whether derived from tobacco or synthetically created.
Supporters of the bill argue that increasing taxes on nicotine products is crucial for reducing youth usage.
“It is important that all tobacco products, including nicotine pouches, are taxed at a parallel rate to encourage people to quit, rather than switch to a cheaper product. Public health experts emphasize the importance of evidence-based smoking cessation methods, such as nicotine replacement therapies that are validated and approved for this purpose,” Audrey Miller-Garcia, testified in support of HB 2033 on behalf of the American Cancer Society during the bill’s public hearing April 8. “Products like ZYN have not been validated and approved by the FDA to help people quit using tobacco products.”
Crystal Leatherman of the Washington Retail Association expressed concerns with adding an increased tax on a product that is not taxed at such a high level in neighboring states.
“I’ve shared testimony before on other nicotine bills and tobacco bills that we’ve heard before the legislature, both in this committee and others, about how Washington is the third highest for smuggled cigarettes and tobacco products in the state because of our high taxes,” Leatherman told the House Committee on Appropriations. “There is concern that adding a high tax to a product that’s being viewed as a cessation tool could unintentionally impact and actually aggravate that situation even worse.”
The proposal calls for the following tax rates:
- For cigars except little cigars, 95 percent of the taxable sales price of cigars, not to exceed 65 cents per cigar;
- For little cigars, 15.125 cents per stick;
- For moist snuff: Cans that weigh 1.2 ounces or less, $2.526 per can; or cans that weigh more than 1.2 ounces, $2.105 per ounce;
- For all other tobacco products, 95 percent of the taxable sales price;
The bill, which cleared the House Appropriations Committee April 8, is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, if passed by the full legislature and signed by the governor.
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