State of Tobacco Control 2023 Coming In:

 

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Nebraska Highlights

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Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and in Nebraska. To address this enormous toll, the American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Nebraska’s elected officials:

  1. Maintain and/or increase funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs;
  2. Oppose all forms of preemption of local tobacco control authority;
  3. Increase tobacco taxes by a minimum of $1.00 per pack.
The 2024 Legislative Session was a short session – 60 days in an even number year versus 90 days in an odd number year. As a result of several contributing factors, Governor Jim Pillen called the Legislature into special session. The special session convened July 25 and met for 17 legislative days, making this special session the longest in Nebraska in more than 60 years.

In an effort to reduce property taxes in the state, the Governor advocated for a package of actions that would offset the decrease in revenue from a lower property tax. On July 29, 2024, Legislative Bill 11, introduced by Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, would raise the tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes from 64 cents to $2.14 beginning October 1, 2024. Throughout the special session, the amount of the proposed tax fluctuated ($2.00, $1.50. $1.72, 68 cents and 34 cents were all proposed). At the end of the session, no cigarette tax increase passed the Legislature and Nebraska’s tobacco tax remains 64 cents: among the lowest in the United States.

Prior to the start of the 2024 special session, Nebraska Medicaid announced it had added coverage for group counseling to their Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation, effective July 1, 2024.

In Nebraska, lobbyists are registered by individuals and by their clients/lobbying firms. In 2024, Nebraska records indicate 11 tobacco industry lobbyists registrations. This was up from 9 tobacco industry lobbyists in 2023 and 8 in 2021.

In the 2025 legislative session in Nebraska, the American Lung Association and coalition partners will continue to promote increased funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs and lay groundwork and cultivate tobacco control and prevention champions in the Legislature in the 2025 session.

Nebraska Facts
Healthcare Costs Due to Smoking: $795,185,324
Adult Smoking Rate: 12.10%
Adult Tobacco Use Rate: 21.10%
High School Smoking Rate: 2.20%
High School Tobacco Use Rate: 10.60%
Middle School Smoking Rate: N/A
Smoking Attributable Deaths per Year: 2,510
Adult smoking and tobacco use data come from CDC’s 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; adult tobacco use includes cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes. High school smoking and tobacco use data come from the 2023 Nebraska Youth Tobacco Survey. High school tobacco use includes cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and electronic vapor products, as well as hookah, making it incomparable to other states. A current middle school smoking rate is not available for this state.

Health impact information is taken from the Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Morbidity and Economic Costs (SAMMEC) software. Smoking-attributable deaths reflect average annual estimates for the period 2005-2009 and are calculated for persons aged 35 years and older. Smoking-attributable healthcare expenditures are based on 2004 smoking-attributable fractions and 2009 personal healthcare expenditure data. Deaths and expenditures should not be compared by state.

Nebraska Information

Learn more about your state specific legislation regarding efforts towards effective Tobacco Control.

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