Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced legislation to increase taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products and institute new taxes on consumable hemp and vape products, alongside other measures designed to address behavioral risk factors linked to the state’s elevated cancer rates. The governor’s initiative responds to preliminary findings from a yearlong research project into factors driving Iowa’s high cancer incidence rates.
The Iowa Legislature approved Reynolds’ request in 2025 to provide $1 million in funding for the research, conducted through a partnership between the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Iowa College of Public Health. Iowa had the second highest age-adjusted rate of new cancers in 2025, and is one of only two states with rising cancer rates. In 2024, Iowa had the fastest rising rate. Initial research findings show “there isn’t one single cause driving Iowa’s cancer rate.” In 2022, there were an estimated 2,582 more Iowans diagnosed with cancer compared to the national rate when accounting for age and gender.
The study identified five cancer types that “pull Iowa away from U.S. trends”—prostate, breast, lung, melanoma, and colorectal cancer. Iowa’s lung cancer instance rates and mortality rates are both higher than neighboring states and the national rate. Research by UI epidemiology professor Dr. Mary Charlton revealed Iowa is in a “cluster” of states with similar behavioral risk and demographic factors including North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, yet Iowa has a significantly higher number of lung cancer instances.
Reynolds’ bill will require continued restrictions on foods like candy and soft drinks available through SNAP, eliminate certain dyes and additives from school lunch programs, and require physicians to complete continuing medical education courses on nutrition. The tax rates on tobacco and vape products were not specified during the announcement. By July 1, 2026, researchers plan to complete modeling and mapping analysis for lung, melanoma, colorectal and HPV-associated cancers.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.mississippivalleypublishing.com/daily_gate/gov-reynolds-announces-push-for-increase-in-tobacco-tax/article_deac3831-2873-4ddc-81ed-f1efe863819f.html