Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander today announced two initiative petitions relating to taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products met state standards for circulation.
The official ballot title for initiative petition 2016-079 reads:
Shall Missouri law be amended to:
- increase taxes on cigarettes in 2017, 2019 and 2021, at which point this additional tax will total 23 cents per pack of 20;
- increase the tax paid by sellers on other tobacco products by 5 percent of manufacturer’s invoice price;
- deposit funds generated by these taxes into the state’s general revenue fund; and
- repeal these taxes if a measure to increase any tax or fee on cigarettes or other tobacco products is certified to appear on any local or statewide ballot?
State government revenue will increase by approximately $95 million to $103 million annually when cigarette and tobacco tax increases are fully implemented. Local government revenues could decrease approximately $3 million annually due to decreased cigarette and tobacco sales.
The official ballot title for initiative petition 2016-080 reads:
Shall Missouri law be amended to:
- increase taxes on cigarettes in 2017, 2019 and 2021, at which point this additional tax will total 23 cents per pack of 20;
- increase the tax paid by sellers on other tobacco products by 5 percent of manufacturer’s invoice price;
- use funds generated by these taxes exclusively to fund transportation infrastructure projects; and
- repeal these taxes if a measure to increase any tax or fee on cigarettes or other tobacco products is certified to appear on any local or statewide ballot?
State government revenue will increase by approximately $95 million to $103 million annually when cigarette and tobacco tax increases are fully implemented. Local government revenues could decrease approximately $3 million annually due to decreased cigarette and tobacco sales.
The petitions, which would amend Chapter 149 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, were submitted by Chuck Hatfield, Stinson Leonard Street LLP, 230 W. McCarty St., Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Before any statutory changes can be brought before Missouri voters in the November 2016 election, signatures must be obtained from registered voters equal to five (5) percent of the total votes cast in the 2012 governor’s election from six of the state’s eight congressional districts.
Signatures on behalf of all initiative petitions for the 2016 ballot are due to the secretary of state’s office by no later than 5 p.m. on May 8, 2016.
Before circulating petitions, state law requires that groups must first have the form of their petition approved by the secretary of state and attorney general. The secretary of state then prepares a summary statement of no more than 100 words, and the state auditor prepares a fiscal impact statement, both of which are subject to the approval of the attorney general. When both statements are approved, they become the official ballot title.
