AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (Requires the department of health to implement a tobacco control program that incorporates evidence-based best practices for tobacco prevention and cessation to prevent tobacco-related diseases and diminish tobacco use in the state.)

H8346

2026 -- H 8346
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LC006181
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Introduced By:
Representatives Cortvriend, Tanzi, and Diaz

Date Introduced:
March 25, 2026

Referred To:
House Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Purpose. To prevent tobacco-related diseases and diminish tobacco use, the
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department of health shall implement a tobacco control program that incorporates evidence-based
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best practices for tobacco prevention and cessation.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 23-1 of the General Laws entitled "Department of Health" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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23-1-59. Tobacco control program.

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(a) The department of health (“the department”) shall conduct statewide surveillance of
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tobacco-related behaviors, knowledge, attitudes, and periodically evaluate the progress of the
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department's tobacco control programs, in reducing tobacco use. Benchmark rates could include:
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the adult smoking prevalence rate from the 2024 benchmark rate of nine and nine-tenths percent
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(9.9%), youth tobacco use rate from the 2023 benchmark rate of seventeen and one-third percent
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(17.3%) and youth e-cigarette rate of sixteen and one-half percent (16.5%).
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(b) The department shall conduct an ongoing public awareness of tobacco related diseases
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program, by developing an information campaign using a variety of media approaches. Any media
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campaign funded under the tobacco control program shall stress the importance of both preventing
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the initiation of tobacco use and quitting tobacco use and shall be based on professional market
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research and surveys, necessary to determine the most effective method of diminishing tobacco use
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among specified target population and/or demonstrated effectiveness campaigns used in other
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states.

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(c) The department shall award and administer grants for projects directed at preventing
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and reducing the use of tobacco and tobacco-related diseases. The purpose of the grant program is
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to conduct health education and promotion activities and tobacco cessation and enforcement
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programs, designed to reduce the number of people beginning to use tobacco, continuing to use
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tobacco, or developing tobacco related diseases. In awarding grants, the department shall select a
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variety of projects and grantees, consider the current availability of similar services and the need
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to target resources to programs serving populations at high risk of starting tobacco use or
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developing tobacco related diseases.
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(d) The department shall evaluate and assess efficacy for each component of the Rhode
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Island tobacco control program. This evaluation shall be submitted annually to the general
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assembly and the director of the department of health.
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(e)(1) Commencing with fiscal years beginning on and after July 1, 2026, funding for
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subsection (e)(2) of this section shall consist of an amount equal to the greater of:
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(i) Five percent (5%) of the total revenues collected annually from chapter 20 of title 44
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("cigarette and other tobacco products tax") and chapter 20.2 of title 44 ("little cigar tax"); or
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(ii) Three million two hundred thousand dollars ($3,200,000), with an additional five
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percent (5%) increase year-over-year to meet the Centers for Disease Control recommended
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funding level for tobacco control and prevention in Rhode Island.
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(2) The amounts referenced in this subsection shall be directed to the tobacco control
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program at the department of health to fund tobacco control initiatives and implement evidence-
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based programs for tobacco prevention and cessation and that align with the goals of preventing
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youth initiation of tobacco usage, reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, and promoting
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cessation. The funding shall be spent in accordance with evidence-based best practices for tobacco
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prevention and cessation.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
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This act would require the department of health to implement a tobacco control program
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that incorporates evidence-based best practices for tobacco prevention and cessation to prevent
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tobacco-related diseases and diminish tobacco use in the state.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC006181
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LC006181 - Page 3 of 3