Kentucky Highlights
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Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and in Kentucky. To address this enormous toll, the American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Kentucky's elected officials:
- Increase funding for the state tobacco prevention and cessation program to $4 million and ensure funding is spent according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Best Practices;
- Allocate $1.2 million per year in Juul settlement funds over the next 3-6 years for youth prevention and cessation; and
- Support and defend local comprehensive smokefree laws, including e-cigarettes.
Senator Higdon, a former retailer himself, recognized the critical importance of licensure as a tool to assist agencies charged with enforcement of the law against nicotine product sales to youth under the age of 21. SB 100 requires all Kentucky retailers that sell any nicotine products to be licensed, subject to regular compliance checks and responsible for escalating penalties up to and including license revocation for repeat violations.
Subsequently, the governor filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of House Bill 6, another bill that limits the administration's authority to implement regulations with “significant economic impact,” defined as greater than $500,000 over any two-year period. Although licensing fees and fines are expected to make the new TRL program self-sustaining, the TRL enforcing agency estimates the stand-up costs to be $2.4 million. This had stalled implementation of Kentucky's new TRL law, but on November 4, 2025, the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) promulgated proposed regulations to implement the new law. A hearing was held on the regulations on December 22, 2025, but they had not been finalized yet when this report was finalized.
Separately, partner organizations were successful in defeating a bill that would have preempted local governments from passing comprehensive smokefree ordinances including cigar bars. However, a cigar bar exemption from Louisville's smokefree law was adopted.
As the legislature begins its work in 2026, the American Lung Association will continue its collaboration with partner organizations, Kentucky's youth-led education program and the media to push for more policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use.
Kentucky Facts |
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|---|---|
| Healthcare Costs Due to Smoking: | $1,926,976,238 |
| Adult Smoking Rate: | 17.40% |
| Adult Tobacco Use Rate: | N/A |
| High School Smoking Rate: | 5.30% |
| High School Tobacco Use Rate: | 20.50% |
| Middle School Smoking Rate: | N/A |
| Smoking Attributable Deaths per Year: | 8,860 |
Adult smoking data come from CDC's 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. An adult tobacco use rate is not available for this state. High school smoking and tobacco use data come from CDC's 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. 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.
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.
Kentucky Information
Learn more about your state specific legislation regarding efforts toward effective Tobacco Control.