NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Wednesday, state Sen. Mike McGuire’s legislation to continue to fight the devastating impacts of tobacco use on public health was approved in the Senate’s Extraordinary Session Committee on Health Care.

California has one of the lowest tobacco taxes in the nation, currently ranking 35th with a tax of 87 cents (even Texas has higher tobacco taxes than California).  

“Nearly 40,000 Californians die every year from smoking and tobacco related diseases. Tobacco use continues to be a public health crisis and we know that the most effective way to reduce smoking, especially among young people, is the price point for a pack of cigarettes,” McGuire said. “This legislation would empower counties to place locally generated tobacco taxes onto the ballot, giving voters a choice to invest in robust health, wellness and anti-smoking programs at the neighborhood level.”

California has over 3.6 million adult smokers and 224,000 youth smokers. According to a Center for Disease Control study, nearly half a million California youth living today will die prematurely from tobacco related diseases.

While disease caused by tobacco has tremendous impacts on the lives of families and communities across the state, it also has significant financial implications for state and local budgets.

Smoking related diseases cost California roughly $13.29 billion in medical expenses each year.

Nationally, more than 600 local jurisdictions have their own cigarette and tobacco taxes. In California, no county has a health-related tax on tobacco products because it’s currently prohibited by state law.

McGuire’s legislation would give counties more control in reducing the public health effects of tobacco use by allowing them to place a health related tobacco tax onto their local ballot.

Increased cigarette taxes are a proven way to reduce smoking especially among youth. Every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces consumption by about 4 percent among adults and about 7 percent among youth.

SBX2 – 9 is part of a bold package of bills introduced during the Extraordinary Session to fight tobacco use and increase the overall health of California. The bill is co-authored by Senators Mark Leno, Carol Liu and Ed Hernandez.

“Local control of tobacco taxes is a critical tool in allowing communities to set public health priorities that can better meet the needs of its residents. They know what works best because they are on the ground doing the hard work day in, and, day out. That said, this bill doesn’t increase taxes, it simply allows counties to put a tobacco tax increase on the ballot in their area. It’s all about choice,” Senator McGuire said.

It has been 16 years since California last raised its tobacco tax, and in that time, health care costs have increased significantly.

This bill allows counties in California to place tobacco taxes independent of the state. It would give counties more local control in reducing the public health effects of tobacco use..

McGuire (D-Healdsburg) has a long history of strengthening local regulations in the fight against tobacco-related illnesses.

As a Healdsburg City Council member, McGuire was instrumental in ushering local ordinances banning smoking in public parks – a fight he brought to a larger stage when he was a Sonoma County Supervisor.

As a Sonoma County supervisor, McGuire co-chaired the effort that brought sweeping changes and strengthened the county’s tobacco related laws.