As the 2019 Legislative session was about to get underway, State Senator Cisco McSorely (D-Albuquerque) introduced bill that would dramatically raise the tobacco tax by 204%. Shortly after introducing the bill that would be catastrophic to retailers in New Mexico the Senator resigned his seat to take a job in the administration of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. The bill sat in the legislature without a sponsor and the hope that it would go away.
However those hopes were dashed as the bill was reintroduced by Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe) and Elizabeth Thomson (D-Bernalillo) at a recent session. The bill if passed would raise the tobacco tax in the Land of Enchantment from 25% to 76%. Currently in the state of New Mexico a $10.00 cigar retails for $12.50, if the measure passes that same cigar would retail for $17.60 beginning July 1, 2019.
The bill which can be read below was sent to the House Committee on Health & Human Services which is chaired by Deborah Armstong (D-Bernalillo).
HB0261 on Scribd
