In addition to the actions on tobacco tax described under HB 90 in the Sales Tax subsection, several other attempts were made during the biennium to raise taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products to discourage consumption.

As noted in the discussion of HB 90, the House Revenue Committee killed HB 126, Tobacco tax (sponsored by the Joint Labor, Health & Social Services Interim Committee), on a 2-7 vote.

HB 126 would have increased the current excise tax on cigarettes of 12 cents/pack to 25 cents/pack, and added a tax equal to 15% of the wholesale price to other tobacco products (e.g., chew), which are currently untaxed except for sales tax.

The vote listed below is the House Revenue Committee vote on HB 126. (Note: This vote was recorded by witnesses at the committee meeting and is not included in the official legislative digest.)

During the 1997 special session on education, two tobacco tax bills were offered. HB 1010 was sponsored by Rep. Douglas Osborn (R-H40, Buffalo) with co-sponsor Sen. Delaine Roberts (R-S16, Etna).

HB 1011 was sponsored by Rep. Randall Luthi (R-H21, Freedom), and co-sponsored by Reps. Rick Badgett (R-H29, Sheridan), Mike Baker (R-H28, Thermopolis), Wende Barker (D-H45, Laramie), Bill Bensel (D-H30, Sheridan), Clarene Law (R-H23, Jackson), George McMurtrey (R-H52, Rozet), Denny Smith (R-H25, Powell), Harry Tipton (R-H33, Lander), and Sens. Irene Devin (R-H10, Laramie), Carroll Miller (R-S19, Shell), Delaine Roberts (R-S16, Etna), and Charles Scott (R-S30, Casper).

Both HB 1010 and HB 1011 were referred to the House Rules & Procedures Committee, where they died without any votes.

Rep. Luthi also sponsored two tobacco tax bills during the 1997 general session: HB 73, with co-sponsor Sen. Carroll Miller (R-S19, Shell); and HB 243, co-sponsored by Reps. Rick Badgett (R-H29, Sheridan), Mike Baker (R-H28, Thermopolis), Wende Barker (D-H45, Laramie), Bill Bensel (D-H30, Sheridan), Clarene Law (R-H23, Jackson), George McMurtrey (R-H52, Rozet), Denny Smith (R-H25, Powell), and Harry Tipton (R-H33, Lander), as well as Sens. Irene Devin (R-S10, Laramie), Carroll Miller, and Charles Scott (R-S30, Casper).

Both HB 73 and HB 243 were referred to the House Revenue Committee, where they died without recorded votes.