CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — A Nevada Democrat is proposing legislation that would raise taxes on alcohol and tobacco to help fund substance abuse programs.
Sen. Tick Segerblom is sponsoring Senate Bill 275, which was discussed Tuesday in the Senate Revenue and Economic Development Committee.
The bill would increase taxes on wine, beer, other alcoholic beverages and cigarettes by up to 50 percent and allocate new funds to substance abuse treatment programs in the state. Segerblom said the bill would represent a more than $75 million increase in state substance abuse programs.
The proposal would also create a pilot program for treating people addicted to heroin by allowing doctors to prescribe limited amounts of prescription heroin to help break the habit.