A state Senate Finance subcommittee voted this week to advance an S.C. House bill imposing a 28.5 cent per package tax on so-called “heated tobacco” products, while adding a new 5-cents-per-millimeter tax on vapes.
Not yet sold in S.C., heated tobacco devices deliver nicotine to users without igniting the tobacco leaf. Manufacturers like Philip Morris claim it is less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes.
The American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society opposed the bill, which set the tax at only half the rate of cigarettes, but senators on the panel argued that it might encourage smokers to switch.
If passed by the full Senate, the bill would go back to the House, where members would have to decide whether to agree to the new vape tax or insist on a conference committee between the two chambers to reach a compromise on the final language.
In other recent news
S.C.-6: Clyburn to run again, defying push for generational change. U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., said on Thursday that he planned to seek an 18th term, breaking with other former congressional leaders and aging lawmakers who have announced retirements and testing his party’s desire for generational change at a crossroads moment.
Income tax cuts, budget bill pass S.C. House. While the state’s $15.4 billion budget and new income tax cuts passed the S.C. House late Tuesday,this story offers a deeper dive into what the measures mean and do.
- S.C. lawmakers extend deadline for state-mandated alcohol server training
- S.C. Senate seeks to regulate hemp beverages, align rules with alcohol
- Bill creating ’25-foot halo’ around police, paramedics advances in Senate
- S.C. tax break for S.C. boat owners could cost counties millions
- S.C. House bill would let local governments punish polluters
- S.C. lawmaker joins families in urging Michigan legislators to pass sextortion education bill
McMaster vetoes bill to keep revenue-sharing contracts with athletes secret. Gov. Henry McMaster’s first 2026 veto was to not sign legislation to shield revenue-sharing contracts between public colleges and student athletes.
S.C. election agency faces more turnover. More leadership turnover at South Carolina’s election agency is certain after interim director Jennifer Wooten decided she didn’t want the job permanently.
Director says measles outbreak slowing. The head of the S.C. Department of Public Health says he’s optimistic that S.C. won’t get more than 1,000 measles cases in its current outbreak, which is now at 993 cases.
IAAM gets historic Harvard slavery photos. Charleston’s International African American Museum is the new steward of what is believed to be the earliest known photos of enslaved Americans, a father and his daughter, from 1850.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.