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H.R. 729: Tobacco Excise Tax and Parity Act of 2017

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H.R. 729: Tobacco Excise Tax and Parity Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-01-30 · Taxation · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-01-30 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Tobacco Excise Tax and Parity Act of 2017

Plain summary

Tobacco Excise Tax and Parity Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the taxation of tobacco products, to: increase or equalize excise taxes on small cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, large cigars, and smokeless tobacco; impose an excise tax on smokeless tobacco sold in discrete single-use units; tax other tobacco products at a level equivalent to the tax rate for cigarettes on an estimated per use basis; provide for annual inflation adjustments for excise tax rates on cigarettes and tobacco products; restrict the sale, lease, export, import, or delivery of tobacco production machines to persons lawfully engaged in: (1) the sale, lease, export, import, or delivery of such machines; (2) the manufacture or packaging of tobacco products or processed tobacco; or (3) the application of unique identification markings onto tobacco products or processed tobacco packages; specify marking and labeling requirements; require manufacturers, sellers, or importers of tobacco production machines to obtain permits; establish new criminal offenses relating to the licensing and distribution of tobacco products or processed tobacco; increase the civil penalty for tobacco-related infractions; and allow sharing of tax return information with government officials for the administration of laws relating to tobacco products and processed tobacco. The bill also: (1) requires the Department of the Treasury to coordinate with other government officials in addressing tobacco tax evasion and conducting other enforcement activities, (2) amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to impose a civil penalty for the importation of tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes by fraudulent means, and (3) provides for the enforcement of this bill in Indian tribal areas.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Tobacco Excise Tax and Parity Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr729 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115