The Senate suspended the constitutional rules requiring a bill be read on three separate days to quickly pass a tobacco increase, along with the Budget Bill, during a morning floor session on Saturday.
Senate Bill 1012 raises the tobacoo tax by 65 cents per pack on cigarettes and other tobacco products, as well as e-cigarettes and vaping products. The bill is expected to generate roughly $100 million per year for the general revenue fund. Following the passage of the tobacco tax increase, the body quickly passed Senate Bill 1013 , the Budget Bill. The revamped budget measure is a balanced approach that includes rouhgly $100 million in additional revenue, $110 million in cuts and $70 million from the Rainy Day Fund.
The Senate began the day by passing Senate Bill 1011, which reduces distributions to the West Virginia Infrastructure Fund by an additional $10 million.
All three bills now move on for consideration in the House of Delegates.
Senate Finance met at 12:50 p.m. in 451M
The Senate has adjourned until tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.
