Arizona Highlights

Tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and in Arizona. To address this enormous toll, the American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Arizona's elected officials:

The American Lung Association continues to champion tobacco control issues in Arizona by leading legislative efforts and partnering with key organizations, state departments, and legislators to ensure tobacco education and prevention remains among the state's top priorities.

In 2025, funding for Arizona's tobacco control program, Tobacco Free Arizona, went from $18.6 million in fiscal year 2025 to $22.135 million in fiscal year 2026. The program is funded by a percentage of revenue from tobacco taxes, and funding has remained relatively consistent over the years. However, the American Lung Association in Arizona keeps a close eye on funding levels to ensure these vital tobacco prevention and quit smoking programs receive the funding dedicated to them. Even at current funding levels, the state remains short of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended levels.

During the 2025 legislative session, the Lung Association worked on legislation that would raise the age of sale for tobacco products to 21 to be consistent with federal law. The bill would also update the definition of tobacco products. Unfortunately, the bill was modified to only raise the sales age and an amendment was added that would exempt members of the military. The federal tobacco 21 law does not exempt members of the military, so the exemption will thankfully have limited impact. The Lung Association did not support the bill, but it was signed into law by Governor Hobbs.

There was also a bill introduced by the tobacco industry that would have created an e-cigarette product registry based on U.S. Food and Drug Administration pre-market tobacco application status that was pushed by the industry in multiple states. The Lung Association opposed the bill and ultimately it did not advance through the legislature.

On the local front, the Lung Association along with a coalition of partners worked with city councilmembers in Scottsdale to add e-cigarettes to their smokefree ordinance and we continue to work on the local level with the city of Mesa and Pima County.

During the 2026 legislative session, the American Lung Association will again work diligently to educate our lawmakers on the enormous negative economic impacts that tobacco use has on Arizona. Creating additional revenue to support tobacco control programs and opposing all forms of statewide preemption on tobacco product sales laws will continue to be a priority.