A bill that would increase the state tax on cigarettes by a dollar per pack was killed on a 9-4 vote in the Hosue State Affairs committee.
Speaker of the House Mark Mickelson is the sponsor of the bill and says it would raise about $30 million annually with some of the extra revenue going to offset tech school tuition and reimburse nursing homes.
The move was opposed by the South Dakota Retailers Association. Lobbyist Jim Hood spoke on their behalf. He says South Dakota is already on the high end of tobacco taxes in the region.
The measure would have also raised taxes on other tobacco products.
(Brookings Radio)