Washington State Bill HB 2033,Nicotine pouches to be included in tobacco tax

Apr.10

Washington State lawmakers are pushing HB 2033 to expand tobacco product taxes, including nicotine pouches, to combat youth usage.

Key Points:

The state of Washington in the United States is advancing House Bill 2033, which aims to include nicotine pouches and other products in the category of tobacco product taxes.

Supporters believe that this will help reduce the use of nicotine products among teenagers, while opponents are concerned that it will exacerbate the issue of smuggling.

If approved, the new tax rate will take effect on January 1, 2026.

According to NBC Right Now on April 8th, the Washington state legislature is advancing a new bill to increase taxes on nicotine products.

The HB 2033 bill, proposed by Vancouver Assemblywoman Monica Jurado Stonier, aims to include products such as nicotine pouches in the current "Other Tobacco Products" (OTP) tax category.

The proposed legislation aims to broaden the definition of "moist snuff" and "tobacco products" to include products containing nicotine, whether derived from tobacco or synthesized. Supporters argue that raising taxes on nicotine products can help reduce teenage use.

The American Cancer Society supported the bill at the public hearing on April 8th. Audrey Miller-Garcia stated that all tobacco products should be taxed at the same rate to encourage quitting smoking, rather than switching to cheaper products.

Crystal Leatherman, from the Washington Retail Association, pointed out that the phenomenon of smuggling cigarettes and tobacco products is severe in Washington state due to high tax rates. Imposing high taxes on products that are seen as smoking cessation tools may exacerbate this issue.

According to the proposal,

Cigars will be taxed at a rate of 95% of the sales price, not to exceed 65 cents per cigar; small cigars will be taxed at 15.125 cents per cigar;

moist snuff: $2.526 per can for 1.2 ounces or less, and $2.105 per ounce for over 1.2 ounces;

all other tobacco products will be taxed at 95% of the sales price.

If the bill passes a vote by the full Parliament and is signed by the Governor, it will take effect on January 1, 2026.

References:

[1] New Washington bill targets nicotine pouches with expanded tax plan

Also Read:

[1] Washington State House Bill 1203 Approved to Ban Flavored E-Cigarettes

[2] Washington State Proposal to Ban Sale of Flavored Tobacco

[3] Washington State Representative Proposes Legislation to Ban Flavored Tobacco Products

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

Copyright

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Argentine province of Santa Fe passes bill expanding smoking regulations to include e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products

The Santa Fe Provincial Chamber of Deputies has passed a bill amending the 2005 Provincial Anti-Smoking Law (No. 12,432) to include e-cigarettes, vaping devices, and heated tobacco products. Lawmaker Sonia Martorano, who authored the initiative, said the reform aims to strengthen prevention policies amid growing youth use, stressing that “even without nicotine, these devices are toxic.”

Nov.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai

JUUL wins approval after FDA reversal of Marketing Denial Order

JUUL's regulatory journey from Marketing Denial Order to approval showcases FDA's evolving approach to e-cigarette oversight.

Nov.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai

U.S. Lawmakers Seek to Empower HHS to Destroy Counterfeit Chinese Tobacco Products

Bipartisan members of the U.S. Congress have introduced the “Ensuring the Necessary Destruction of Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act” (END Act), seeking to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to directly destroy adulterated, misbranded, or counterfeit imported tobacco products.Major tobacco companies, including Altria, along with several public health organizations, have announced their support for the bill.

Nov.11 by 2FIRSTS.ai

South Korea Implements Law Requiring Full Disclosure of Tobacco Harmful Substances

South Korea has enacted the Tobacco Harm Management Act, effective November 1, 2025, requiring tobacco manufacturers and importers to test and report harmful substances in their products every two years. Results for all tobacco types—including combustible cigarettes, heated tobacco, and e-cigarettes—will be publicly available from mid-2026.