Following the Arkansas House’s lead, the Senate passed a law to raise the state’s cigarette tax by 56-cents per pack. It is expected to be signed by Governor Mike Beebe (D) who was the chief proponent for the tax hike.
The bill barely passed the 3/4 supermajority requirement in both chambers – receiving exactly 75 votes in the House and one more than necessary in the Senate. The estimated $88 million tax hike will push Arkansas’s cigarette tax well beyond the rate in bordering states, which collectively average 63-cents.
Click here for ATR’s alert to Arkansas Senators. Also see here and here for prior alerts, letters, press releases, and blog posts opposing the tax hike.