Characteristics of proposed and enacted state tobacco control legislation in the United States, 2010–2015

This study documents all tobacco control proposals (bills) introduced in the United States into all 50 state legislatures from the start of 2010 through 2015 and assesses associations between tobacco-related strategies and tobacco product types with enactment of the bills into law. In total, members of state legislatures introduced 2801 tobacco control bills, and state legislatures enacted 17.4%. Bills most introduced addressed clean air (n = 696) and tax or price bills (n = 582), yet both had lower likelihood of enactment (each OR, 0.51; 95% CI 0.38–0.69) compared to bills on any other tobacco control strategy. Legislators introduced only 147 product manufacturing bills, but these had the highest odds of enactment (OR, 3.70, 95% CI 2.52–5.44) compared to any other intended strategy, followed by tax evasion (OR, 3.08; 95% CI 2.33–4.08) and retailer licensing or location (OR, 1.73; 95 CI 1.24–2.41). Compared to other products, bills regulating e-cigarettes had the highest enactment rate (21.2%). Despite introduction of many bills promoting traditional, evidence-based tobacco control strategies, these had less likelihood of enactment than others.