S 2860Public Health

Health and Safety - Department of Health

This bill creates a funded state program to track tobacco use, run anti-smoking ads, and help people quit smoking.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Mar 4, 2026Committee Senate Health & Human Services

Plain-English Summary

This legislation mandates that the Rhode Island Department of Health implement a comprehensive tobacco control program. The program will focus on preventing tobacco use, helping users quit, and monitoring tobacco-related behaviors across the state. It requires the department to run public awareness campaigns and award grants for prevention and cessation projects. Starting July 1, 2026, the bill secures specific funding for these efforts, requiring an amount equal to at least $3.2 million or 5% of tobacco tax revenues annually, whichever is greater, to be allocated to the program.

For younger readers

This new law tells the health department to create a special program to help people stop smoking and to keep kids from ever starting. The department will study how many people are using tobacco and use commercials to teach everyone about the dangers of smoking. They will also give money to groups that help people quit. Starting in 2026, the state promises to set aside a large amount of money every year specifically to pay for these health activities and make sure they keep working.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Smokers and Tobacco UsersMinors and YouthDepartment of Health EmployeesHealthcare ProvidersTaxpayers

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

$2.05

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Establishes a guaranteed, increasing funding stream for public health initiatives, ensuring that tobacco prevention and cessation programs are not subject to annual budget cuts.
Directs resources specifically toward high-risk populations, potentially reducing health disparities among lower-income communities where tobacco usage rates are often significantly higher.
Mandates the use of evidence-based practices and annual evaluations, ensuring that taxpayer money is utilized effectively to improve community wellness and reduce addiction.
Relies on revenue from tobacco taxes, which disproportionately affect low-income individuals, essentially funding the program through a regressive tax structure.
Includes language regarding "enforcement programs" in grant distribution, which could potentially lead to increased policing or punitive measures against marginalized communities.
Locks in a specific funding mandate that could limit the flexibility of the state budget to address other urgent social needs or housing crises if state revenues fluctuate.

For Conservatives

Focuses on preventing youth initiation of tobacco use, aligning with traditional values of protecting children from addictive and harmful substances.
Mandates annual evaluations and assessments of program efficacy, promoting accountability and transparency regarding how government funds are utilized.
Aims to reduce tobacco-related diseases, which could theoretically lower the long-term burden on state-subsidized healthcare systems and taxpayer-funded medical costs.
Mandates a permanent spending increase with an automatic 5% year-over-year growth, removing legislative discretion and potentially bloating the state budget.
Expands the size and scope of the Department of Health, creating more bureaucracy and government intervention in personal lifestyle choices.
Earmarks specific tax revenues for a dedicated program, restricting the state's ability to use those funds for tax relief or other fiscal priorities.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 38 additions

SECTION 1. Purpose. To prevent tobacco-related diseases and diminish tobacco use, the department of health shall implement a tobacco control program that incorporates evidence-based best practices for tobacco prevention and cessation.

SECTION 2. Chapter 23-1 of the General Laws entitled "Department of Health" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 23-1-59. Tobacco control program.

(a) The department of health (“the department”) shall conduct statewide surveillance of tobacco-related behaviors, knowledge, attitudes, and periodically evaluate the progress of the department's tobacco control programs, in reducing tobacco use. Benchmark rates could include: the adult smoking prevalence rate from the 2024 benchmark rate of nine and nine-tenths percent (9.9%), youth tobacco use rate from the 2023 benchmark rate of seventeen and one-third percent (17.3%) and youth e-cigarette rate of sixteen and one-half percent (16.5%).

(b) The department shall conduct an ongoing public awareness of tobacco related diseases program, by developing an information campaign using a variety of media approaches. Any media campaign funded under the tobacco control program shall stress the importance of both preventing the initiation of tobacco use and quitting tobacco use and shall be based on professional market research and surveys, necessary to determine the most effective method of diminishing tobacco use among specified target population and/or demonstrated effectiveness campaigns used in other states.

(c) The department shall award and administer grants for projects directed at preventing and reducing the use of tobacco and tobacco-related diseases. The purpose of the grant program is to conduct health education and promotion activities and tobacco cessation and enforcement programs, designed to reduce the number of people beginning to use tobacco, continuing to use tobacco, or developing tobacco related diseases. In awarding grants, the department shall select a variety of projects and grantees, consider the current availability of similar services and the need to target resources to programs serving populations at high risk of starting tobacco use or developing tobacco related diseases.

(d) The department shall evaluate and assess efficacy for each component of the Rhode Island tobacco control program. This evaluation shall be submitted annually to the general assembly and the director of the department of health. (e)(1) Commencing with fiscal years beginning on and after July 1, 2026, funding for subsection (e)(2) of this section shall consist of an amount equal to the greater of:

(i) Five percent (5%) of the total revenues collected annually from chapter 20 of title 44 ("cigarette and other tobacco products tax") and chapter 20.2 of title 44 ("little cigar tax"); or

(ii) Three million two hundred thousand dollars ($3,200,000), with an additional five percent (5%) increase year-over-year to meet the Centers for Disease Control recommended funding level for tobacco control and prevention in Rhode Island.

(2) The amounts referenced in this subsection shall be directed to the tobacco control program at the department of health to fund tobacco control initiatives and implement evidence- based programs for tobacco prevention and cessation and that align with the goals of preventing youth initiation of tobacco usage, reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, and promoting cessation. The funding shall be spent in accordance with evidence-based best practices for tobacco prevention and cessation.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.