Plans to increase tobacco taxes fail. Georgia has the second-lowest tobacco tax rate in the country. Public health advocates say increasing taxes could reduce the number of people who smoke and reduce the state’s health care costs. Rep. Michelle Au, a Democratic doctor from Johns Creek, last year proposed bills to increase taxes on cigarettes and vape products. Neither received a committee hearing, meaning they are effectively dead until next year. (HB 83; HB 84) Other Au bills that would have banned the sale of flavored vape products and required vape manufacturers to disclose ingredients also failed to get committee hearings. (HB 958; HB 959)