A clear majority of Montana voters would support doubling the state’s cigarette tax, according to a new poll conducted in March. The survey found that 77 percent of respondents favor imposing an additional $2 per pack on cigarettes, with 59 percent saying they “strongly” support the increase.
The proposal would raise Montana’s current tax from $1.70 per pack to $3.70 per pack—a roughly 185 percent increase that would put the state above the national average of $2.05 per pack. The poll was conducted by FM3 Research between March 9 and 16, surveying 628 Montana voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Cross-Party Support
Support for the tax increase transcends party lines. Among Republicans, 76 percent backed the proposal, compared with 85 percent of Democrats and 69 percent of independents. The breadth of backing suggests the measure could gain traction with a diverse coalition if it moves forward legislatively.
By contrast, other revenue proposals drew far less enthusiasm. Only 22 percent of respondents supported raising the gas tax, and 24 percent favored establishing a statewide sales tax in Montana.
Revenue Decline and Public Health
Montana cigarette tax revenue has fallen sharply over the past decade. The state collected nearly $74 million from the tax in 2014 but only $49 million in 2024—a drop that reflects declining smoking rates and possibly increased purchases across state lines.
The state’s most recent cigarette tax increase occurred in 2003, when the Legislature raised the rate from 18 cents to 70 cents per pack. Voters approved the current $1.70 rate through an initiative four years later.
Supporters of a tax increase point to the substantial public health burden tobacco use places on Montana. Annual healthcare costs tied to smoking total $511 million statewide, with $87.2 million in Medicaid expenses alone. The state also ties Louisiana for the second-highest rate of e-cigarette use nationally.
Flavored Tobacco Ban Also Popular
The poll also tested support for restricting flavored tobacco products. Seventy percent of respondents backed ending the sale of flavored tobacco, with similar backing across party lines: 70 percent of Republicans, 74 percent of Democrats, and 64 percent of independents.
Montana’s current tax remains modest compared with neighboring states. Idaho’s tax stands at 57 cents per pack, Wyoming at 60 cents, North Dakota at 44 cents, and South Dakota at $1.53. Nationally, state cigarette taxes range from 21 cents in parts of Missouri to $7 per pack in parts of Illinois.
The poll was released by the Montana Kids vs. Big Tobacco coalition and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, organizations that advocate for stricter tobacco regulation and higher taxes on cigarettes and vaping products.
Any legislative action on a cigarette tax increase would need to wait until the 2027 regular session, as the Montana Legislature meets only in odd-numbered years. The 2025 session adjourned in the spring, and 2026 is an interim year focused on committee work building toward the next full legislative cycle.
