The state of Nevada will cap taxes on premium cigars at 50 cents starting July 1 via a statehouse bill that passed with wide majorities in both the assembly and senate.
The measure was carried through the lawmaking process by a coalition of locally owned small businesses, which organized an effort with legislative allies of their local cigar shops.
Las Vegas cigar entrepreneur Michael Frey and Nevada lobbyist Mike Sullivan of The Ferraro Group, who assisted efforts in the capitol, said in a press release, “This was a legislative effort to bring tax fairness to Nevada for a small segment of the local economy. Glynn Loope, director of state advocacy for the Premium Cigar Association, added in the same press release, “Nevada’s community tobacconists made the case in a manner that sets a national example. They built a bipartisan coalition of legislative support, made the case that the tax cap was a small business issue that would improve their competitive position, and discussed the impact on women and minority-owned small businesses at hearings. PCA welcomed the opportunity to provide committee testimony, grassroots advocacy, and research support on tax and public health issues. The local cigar shops of Nevada, though, made the difference.”
