U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Iowa

Last updated November 29, 2011

  FY2012 FY2011
State Rank 28 20
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $3.3 million $7.3 million
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($36.7 million)		 8.9% 20.0%

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Iowa
spend $36.7 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program. Iowa currently allocates $3.3 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation. This is 8.9% of the CDC’s recommendation and ranks Iowa 28th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs. Iowa’s spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 1.1% of the estimated $294 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Recent Developments: The FY2012 budget for Iowa provides $3.3 million dollars in state funds for tobacco prevention and cessation programs, a significant decrease from the $7.3 million allocated in FY2011. While in the past funding for tobacco prevention programs has come from the MSA, Healthy Iowans Tobacco Trust, and the Healthcare Trust Fund, funds from the tobacco tax increase, these funds are now being directed into a general fund where tobacco prevention must compete with many other legislative priorities to secure funding.

In addition, Iowa is receiving $1.6 million in federal funds dedicated to tobacco prevention and control:

  • $1.0 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 12-month grant for the period beginning April 2011 (from annual appropriations).

  • $92,758 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law.

  • $479,850 from the Food and Drug Administration for enforcement of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, including the provision regarding tobacco sales to minors.