2003 Arkansas Legislative Summary During the 2003 Arkansas Legislative Session, the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas will be watching several issues relating to tobacco prevention. The main two issues will be maintaining tobacco prevention settlement funding and increasing the sales tax on tobacco products.

1. Maintaining MSA prevention funding Arkansas currently allocates $16.39 million/year ($6.50/capita) for tobacco prevention. This is 91.5% of the CDC’s minimum recommendation and ranks Arkansas 5th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs.
   
   The special session provided us with a window into what we can expect for upcoming legislative session. One bill proposed nearly half of the tobacco prevention money be reallocated to fund academic scholarships. This bill would have required the student to sign a “no-smoking pledge.” Our fight will be tough to keep the money as it was intended by the voters with Initiated Act One (the Chart plan).
   
2. Increasing the Sales Tax on Tobacco Products Since tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and disease, states have an obligation to do as much as possible to reduce tobacco-related illness and the associated cost. In 2002, there have been unprecedented increases in state taxes on tobacco products, and these increases alone will produce public health benefits.
   
   Many states across the nation have had their tobacco prevention funding slashed regardless of proven effectiveness in saving lives or money. If we do not take action now, this same crisis could happen in Arkansas. Because a comprehensive approach to tobacco control has been recognized as the most effective way to reduce the problems and costs associated with tobacco use, states should fund and strongly support these programs even in periods of budget constraints.
   
   An increased sales tax on all tobacco products is a two-fold win, first and most importantly it will decrease consumption among youth and adults, secondly it will raise revenue to offset budget shortfalls.
   
   The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas is supporting a 30% sales tax increase on tobacco products.