Ballot Title Setting Board
2019-2020

The title as designated and fixed by the Board is as follows:

STATE TAXES SHALL BE INCREASED BY $334,400,000 ANNUALLY BY A CHANGE TO THE COLORADO REVISED STATUTES INCREASING TAXES ON PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN NICOTINE, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH: (1) INCREASING THE CIGARETTE TAX BY TEN CENTS PER CIGARETTE, ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION, AND INCREASING THE TOBACCO PRODUCTS TAX BY 22% OF THE MANUFACTURER'S LIST PRICE; (2) CREATING A TAX ON NICOTINE AND VAPING PRODUCTS THAT IS EQUAL TO THE TOTAL STATE TAX ON TOBACCO PRODUCTS; (3) USING THE NEW REVENUE FOR PRESCHOOL ACCESS FOR CHILDREN IN THE YEAR BEFORE KINDERGARTEN, AND TO EXPAND TOBACCO EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND CESSATION PROGRAMS; (4) REQUIRING LICENSING OF NICOTINE AND VAPING PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTORS; (5) REQUIRING STATE AUDITS OF THE NEW REVENUE USED FOR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS; AND (6) AUTHORIZING THE STATE TO KEEP AND SPEND ALL THE NEW REVENUE AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE.

The ballot title and submission clause as designated and fixed by the Board is as follows:

SHALL STATE TAXES BE INCREASED BY $334,400,000 ANNUALLY BY A CHANGE TO THE COLORADO REVISED STATUTES INCREASING TAXES ON PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN NICOTINE, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH: (1) INCREASING THE CIGARETTE TAX BY TEN CENTS PER CIGARETTE, ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION, AND INCREASING THE TOBACCO PRODUCTS TAX BY 22% OF THE MANUFACTURER'S LIST PRICE; (2) CREATING A TAX ON NICOTINE AND VAPING PRODUCTS THAT IS EQUAL TO THE TOTAL STATE TAX ON TOBACCO PRODUCTS; (3) USING THE NEW REVENUE FOR PRESCHOOL ACCESS FOR CHILDREN IN THE YEAR BEFORE KINDERGARTEN, AND TO EXPAND TOBACCO EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND CESSATION PROGRAMS; (4) REQUIRING LICENSING OF NICOTINE AND VAPING PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTORS; (5) REQUIRING STATE AUDITS OF THE NEW REVENUE USED FOR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS; AND (6) AUTHORIZING THE STATE TO KEEP AND SPEND ALL THE NEW REVENUE AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE?

Hearing March 25, 2020

Single subject approved; staff draft amended; titles set.
Hearing adjourned 12:18 PM.

* Unofficially captioned "Increasing Taxes on Cigarettes and Tobacco Products and Establishing a New Tax on Nicotine and Vaping Products" by legislative staff for tracking purposes. This caption is not part of the titles set by the Board.