New Mexico’s SB 20: A Harmful Tax Hike on Tobacco & Vapor Products

New Mexico lawmakers are considering SB 20, a bill that would increase taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products while re-allocating revenue to a new fund for nicotine use prevention. The bill also appropriates $500,000 for regulatory enforcement, taking effect July 1, 2025. 

While reducing smoking rates is an important public health goal, increasing taxes on alternatives like vaping discourages smokers from switching to ash and smoke free products. This bill does more harm than good by treating all nicotine products the same, despite significant differences in health risks. 

Why You Should Oppose SB 20 

⚠️ Higher Taxes Hurt Consumers & Small Businesses 

✅ Disproportionately Impacts Low-Income Consumers – Sin taxes are regressive, meaning they hit lower-income individuals the hardest. 

✅ Hurts Small Vape & Tobacco Retailers – Higher taxes drive consumers to out-of-state or illicit markets, damaging local businesses. 

✅ Discourages Alternative Nicotine Products – Vapor products are 98-99% less harmful than smoking, yet increased taxation treats them as equally dangerous. 

🚫 SB 20’s Flawed Approach to Public Health 

✅ Taxing Alternative Nicotine Products to Fund Anti-Nicotine Campaigns is Counterproductive – Smokers looking to switch will face higher costs instead of more affordable options. 

✅ Overburdens Regulatory Efforts – The bill allocates $500,000 for enforcement, diverting resources from more effective public health measures. 

✅ Fails to Recognize Global Best Practices – The UK and other countries support switching to vaping as a public health strategy rather than discouraging it through excessive taxes. 

💬 Talking Points for Lawmakers

Use these points when contacting your representatives: 

📌 "I oppose SB 20 because higher taxes on vaping products will discourage smokers from switching to superior alternatives." 

📌 "Sin taxes disproportionately impact low-income consumers, making it harder for them to quit smoking affordably." 

📌 "New Mexico should support nicotine alternatives for adult consumers, not create financial barriers that push people back to smoking or illicit markets." 

📌 "Tax revenue should be used for responsible regulation, not punitive anti-nicotine campaigns that ignore science." 

📞 Take Action Now! 

📧 Contact your New Mexico state representatives and urge them to vote NO on SB 20. 

🔄 Share this information with fellow advocates, business owners, and consumers. 

📅 Stay informed on legislative updates and hearings. 

You can find your elected officials using VTA’s Action Center.