Iowa law funds pediatric cancer research through vape tax
By Abigail Kurten
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DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — A new vape tax will provide $3 million annually for pediatric cancer research.
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 2480 into law at the University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital Tuesday afternoon.
She was joined by Scott Haas, one of the bill’s biggest advocates since his daughter, Devyn, was diagnosed with Leukemia as a baby.
“We wanted to make a difference for other families that would have to go through this same journey we went through,” he said.
Specifically, a 5 cent tax will be placed on products like nicotine pouches and vapes starting Jan. 1 of next year.
And while the legislation has proven popular among Iowans, some business owners like Carol Horton, who owns Uncle Ruckus’ Smoke Shop in Des Moines, says it isn’t the right call.
“Why are you picking on smokers?” she asked during an interview with KCCI.
She says her frustration isn’t with funding pediatric cancer research, but rather, the fact that smoke shops like hers will be the only ones funding it.
“There’s alcohol, good, gasoline,” she said. “Things that would entail everybody helping to benefit children with cancer.”
Between this and a 40% tax on smoking devices, Gov. Reynolds signed at the end of the 2024 legislative session, Horton says she anticipates many smoke shops like hers leaving the state or closing altogether.
But she doesn’t see it preventing people from using nicotine devices in the first place.
“It wont,” she said. “If it was 50%, maybe.”
The tax goes into effect Jan. 1, 2027.
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