The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri House Bill 1856 raises cigarette tax by five mills per cigarette for public education and health care
Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsors: Steve Butz and 1 other
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Would Do
Beginning January 1, 2027, House Bill 1856 imposes an additional five--per-cigarette tax, raising the overall rate from $0.17 to $0.27 per pack upon voter approval at the November 2026 election, with revenue allocated to school funds, health initiatives, and the fair share fund.
Consumers will pay higher prices on cigarette purchases while school districts, health initiatives, and the fair share fund receive increased revenue allocations, subject to voter approval in November 2026.
- House Bill 1856 was introduced during the 2026 Regular Session of the Missouri General Assembly by Representative Steve Butz. context
- Cigarette taxes in Missouri have historically been used to fund public education through mechanisms like the fair share fund and health programs through the health initiatives fund. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Cigarette consumers
Consumers bear the economic impact of the tax increase as it is added to the retail price of cigarettes.
Licensed wholesalers
Wholesalers must manage stamp purchases under new limits and act as collection agents for the state.
School districts
School districts receive increased revenue allocations distributed through the state school moneys fund and fair share fund.
Key Facts
- House Bill 1856 levies an additional tax of five mills per cigarette beginning January 1, 2027, upon voter approval.
- Revenues generated by the additional tax, less a three percent reduction, are distributed as 23.5% to the fair share fund, 23.5% to the health initiatives fund, and 53% to the state school moneys fund.
- Licensees are restricted from purchasing stamp numbers greater than 110% of the previous year's purchases for the same six-month period prior to the tax modification effective date.
- The measure is submitted to qualified voters at an election held on the Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2026.
Show all 6 facts
- The tax impact is intended to be absorbed by the consumer or user, with the first seller acting as an agent of the state for payment and collection.
- Wholesalers must keep a record of tax on gross sales, evidenced by appropriate stamps attached to each package.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the proposed cigarette tax increase take effect?
How will the revenue from the new cigarette tax be distributed?
Are wholesalers restricted in how many tax stamps they can buy before the tax change?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- May 15, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Emerging Issues(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 1, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expanded Revenue Distribution
The bill structures a multi-fund allocation strategy directing revenue across school moneys, health initiatives, and fair share funds.
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools