Ballot Title Setting Board
2019-2020

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

STATE TAXES SHALL BE INCREASED $318,100,000 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 NINE AND ONE-HALF 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 PRODUCTS THAT IS EQUAL TO 32% OF THE RETAIL SALE PRICE; (3) USING THE NEW REVENUE TO PROVIDE PRESCHOOL ACCESS TO ALL CHILDREN IN THE YEAR BEFORE KINDERGARTEN, SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE FUNDING, AND TO EXPAND TOBACCO EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND CESSATION PROGRAMS; (4) REQUIRING LICENSING OF NICOTINE 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 $318,100,000 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 NINE AND ONE-HALF 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 PRODUCTS THAT IS EQUAL TO 32% OF THE RETAIL SALE PRICE; (3) USING THE NEW REVENUE TO PROVIDE PRESCHOOL ACCESS TO ALL CHILDREN IN THE YEAR BEFORE KINDERGARTEN, SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE FUNDING, AND TO EXPAND TOBACCO EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND CESSATION PROGRAMS; (4) REQUIRING LICENSING OF NICOTINE 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?

February 5, 2020 - Hearing

Single subject approved; staff draft amended; titles set. The Board made technical corrections to the text. Hearing adjourned 8:23 PM.

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