Idaho Lawmakers Working on New Vaping Rules

As state lawmakers consider new rules to combat vaping in Idaho, two retailers are asking them to ease any new taxes.

Jacksons, Tobacco Connection and Big Smoke grocery stores, all under the same ownership, argued before lawmakers Tuesday that they should tax vaping products at a rate of three cents per milliliter.

This would be the lowest rate in the country, according to the Tax Foundation.

Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina and Wisconsin currently charge the lowest per milliliter tax at five cents. The average is seven cents.

Other states tax vaping products based on their wholesale price or a combination of the two approaches.

Three cents per milliliter, said Doug Ball, who oversees tobacco products at Jacksons, “is not excessive.” “

Based on Jacksons sales over the last 12 months, that would be over $85,000 in tax revenue from our stores alone,” Ball said.

That money, he said, could then be used to create a new government registry of vaping products that would be updated monthly with items banned by the Food and Drug Administration.

“I think there is enough money out there that could pay for this simpler solution to be implemented in Idaho,” Ball said.

Idaho is one of 18 states that do not tax vaping. All other tobacco products are taxed at 40% of the wholesale price.

Lawmakers last tried to tax e-cigarettes in 2023, but the bill was never considered.

The committee considering the new rules heard proposals from tobacco lobbyists, public health officials and others in early September.

Copyright 2024 Boise State Public Radio.