tax on cigarettes sent to the Governor

The House spent Wednesday afternoon debating H.3567 (Rice), legislation increasing the tax on cigarettes, which the Senate had sent back to them with amendments on May 8. The House adopted only one amendment to the bill, which provides one million dollars to the Department of Agriculture for the "Grown in SC" program. On Thursday, the Senate concurred in the House amendment to H.3567.
H.3567 increases the tax on cigarettes by 50 cents per pack, generating approximately $159 million in new revenue. Funds will go to expanding components of the state's Medicaid program, health insurance assistance for low income residents, to the Smoking Cessation and Prevention Trust Fund, and one million dollars to the Department of Agriculture. The bill was ratified on Thursday and sent to the Governor who has until 12:00 midnight on Wednesday, May 28th, to act on the bill.