BISMARCK (AP) - North Dakota lawmakers have passed a bill that requires commercial roll-your-own cigarette machine owners to register their equipment and pay the same taxes as name-brand packaged smokes.
North Dakota's House passed the bill 69-25 on Tuesday. The Senate earlier approved the measure.
The state Tax Department pushed the measure.
The loose pipe tobacco used by the machines is taxed by the state at just one-tenth the rate of cigarettes. A pack of cigarettes is taxed by the state at 44 cents a pack.
The measure redefines cigarettes and list businesses that use the commercial rolling machines as tobacco manufacturers.