Illinois Highlights

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

  1. Protect funding for state tobacco control programs;
  2. Reduce tobacco retailer density near schools and daycare centers; and
  3. Protect the Smoke-Free Illinois Act.
During the 104th Illinois General Assembly, legislators demonstrated strong leadership in tobacco control by increasing the cost of tobacco products to reduce their appeal—particularly among youth and other price-sensitive users—and by increasing funding for the state's tobacco control program by 50 percent. Working in partnership with the American Lung Association and health advocacy organizations across the state, lawmakers raised taxes on e-cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products (OTP) to align with the cigarette tax; added nicotine pouches to the definition of tobacco products; and doubled the annual tobacco retailer licensure fee. These actions marked the first increase to OTP taxes in 12 years and the first increase to the e-cigarette tax in six years. These policy wins represent a major step forward in protecting public health and reducing the burden of tobacco use in Illinois.

Legislation to amend the Preventing Youth Vaping Act to establish an e-cigarette certification directory was also reintroduced. Health advocates worked to inform state representatives about the potential harms of passing such legislation given it would endorse products deemed illegal by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as legal in the state of Illinois. This bill passed out of its House committee but did not advance further.

Looking ahead to 2026, it is critical that Illinois builds on this momentum to further strengthen tobacco control policies and protect the progress made. Advocates will continue working to ensure that recent funding increases are sustained and effectively implemented to support prevention, cessation, and health equity efforts across the state. As new threats emerge—such as legislation that could undermine FDA authority or legitimize unauthorized tobacco products—ongoing vigilance and advocacy will be essential. By prioritizing public health and maintaining strong state investment, Illinois can continue to lead in reducing tobacco use and protecting future generations.

Illinois Facts
Healthcare Costs Due to Smoking: $5,495,627,110
Adult Smoking Rate: 10.80%
Adult Tobacco Use Rate: 17.10%
High School Smoking Rate: 3.60%
High School Tobacco Use Rate: 17.10%
Middle School Smoking Rate: N/A
Smoking Attributable Deaths per Year: 18,280
Adult smoking and tobacco use data come from CDC's 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; adult tobacco use includes cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes. High school smoking data come from CDC's 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. High school tobacco use data comes from CDC's 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A current middle school smoking rate is not available for this state.

Health impact information is taken from the Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Morbidity and Economic Costs (SAMMEC) software. Smoking-attributable deaths reflect average annual estimates for the period 2005-2009 and are calculated for persons aged 35 years and older. Smoking-attributable healthcare expenditures are based on 2004 smoking-attributable fractions and 2009 personal healthcare expenditure data. Deaths and expenditures should not be compared by state.

Illinois Information

Learn more about your state specific legislation regarding efforts toward effective Tobacco Control.

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