Region 4: Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida

Tennessee became the first traditional tobacco-growing state to pass a strong smokefree air law; Florida has the strongest smokefree law in the region. Tennessee also now leads the region with a $0.62 cigarette tax after an increase in 2007. Florida now leads the region in tobacco control program funding at a little over 75 percent of the CDC recommended minimum level due to a big increase in funding in 2007.

Region 4 average cigarette tax: $0.33

• Tennessee increased its cigarette tax by $0.42 to $0.62 per pack.
• Tennessee became the first traditional tobacco-growing state to pass legislation to prohibit smoking in most public places and workplaces, including almost all restaurants.
• Florida substantially increased funding for its tobacco control program from about $6.6 million in FY2007 to about $58.9 million in FY2008 due to a constitutional amendment passed by voters in November 2006.
• North Carolina passed legislation prohibiting smoking in state government buildings, and provides the option to local governments to make local government buildings and transportation systems smokefree.

Region 5: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota

Illinois and Minnesota join Ohio as states in the region with a comprehensive smokefree air law. Michigan continues to have the highest cigarette tax in the region at $2.00 per pack. Minnesota funds its tobacco control program at between 80 and 90 percent of the CDC minimum level, the highest in the region.

Region 5 average cigarette tax: $1.41

• Illinois and Minnesota passed legislation prohibiting smoking in almost all public places and workplaces, including restaurants, bars and non-tribal casinos.
• Wisconsin increased its cigarette tax by $1.00 to $1.77 per pack and increased funding for its tobacco control program.
• Indiana increased its cigarette tax by $0.44 to $0.995 per pack and increased funding for its tobacco control program.
• Minnesota passed legislation requiring cigarettes to self-extinguish when not being smoked, to help prevent cigarette-caused fires.
• Ohio securitized all of its Master Settlement Agreement monies in 2007, putting future tobacco control program funding in jeopardy.

Region 6: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico

New Mexico became the state with the strongest smokefree air law in the region with passage of a comprehensive law in 2007. Texas continues to have the highest cigarette tax in the region at $1.41 per pack. Arkansas leads the region in funding for its tobacco control program at between 90 and 100 percent of the CDC minimum level.

Region 6 average cigarette tax: $0.86

• New Mexico passed legislation prohibiting smoking in almost all public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars.
• New Mexico and Oklahoma increased funding for their respective tobacco control programs to between 70 and 80 percent of the CDC minimum level.
• Louisiana and Texas passed legislation requiring cigarettes to self-extinguish when not being smoked, to help prevent cigarette-caused fires.

Regional Analysis continued...