Michigan Highlights

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

In the 2025 legislative session, Governor Gretchen Whitmer included several tobacco prevention priorities in her proposed budget, including a new tax on e-cigarette and other nicotine products that would have made the tax on such products the same as on other tobacco products like cigars and smokeless tobacco. However, the legislature removed the proposed 32% wholesale tax on e-cigarettes and alternative nicotine products in the budget that was ultimately approved.

In 2025, the Lung Association also supported a package of bills in the state legislature, introduced to further advance tobacco reduction efforts in Michigan. These bills include establishing tobacco retail licensure and repealing youth purchase, use and possession laws. Thankfully, the 2025 legislative session ended with a passage of the tobacco retail licensure bills, Senate Bill 462 and 465 in the Senate. The bills will be sent over to the House with hope for passage in 2026. We will continue working with our partners to ensure the bills passage in the 2026 legislative session.

Additionally, there have been growing developments and successful passage of tobacco prevention ordinances at the local level. In March 2025, the Detroit City Council unanimously passed a law to restrict marijuana and vaping ads near schools and playgrounds. This ordinance was many years in the making because they had to ensure that it met U.S. Supreme Court standards for advertising and the First Amendment.

In October 2025, the city council also approved an ordinance that prohibits the use of smokeless tobacco, including nicotine pouches in the Detroit Tigers stadium, Comerica Park. This is the 18th out of 30 Major League Baseball stadiums to prohibit smokeless tobacco or tobacco product use, and aims to set the right example for America's kids and protect the health of the players. With our local partners, we are keeping a close eye on any developments on the requests for proposal by the Wayne County Airport Authority to establish a cigar bar in Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Tobacco prevention work in Michigan remains at risk due to federal funding cuts to the CDC's Office of Smoking and Health. Michigan continues to spend only 6.3% of the CDC's recommended amount for tobacco control. While there was a small but encouraging increase in funding in the state budget for fiscal year 2026, Michigan needs to continue to increase spending on tobacco control and prevention. Increasing tobacco taxes and ensuring parity for all forms of tobacco would help raise the revenue to increase funding.

The American Lung Association remains committed to working with coalition partners to advance tobacco control policies. As the legislature prepares for the 2026 session, the Lung Association will continue to educate policymakers, business leaders, and the media on the importance of reducing tobacco use and protecting public health.