Alabama Bills Propose Tobacco Tax Hike

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Alabama smokers may soon have to reach deeper into their pockets if state lawmakers have their way. Three separate bills in the House of Representatives propose increasing Alabama's tax on tobacco, according to the Birmingham Business Journal.

On Tuesday, the House read bills proposed by Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) and Rep. Joe Hubbard (D-Montgomery) that would raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes by either 32.5 cents or $1. Alabama's current cigarette tax is 42.5 cents per pack.

If one of the bill passes, it may help alleviate the state's projected spending deficit, which could reach as high as $171 million, reported the newspaper.