Several tobacco use prevention and related bills remain in committee at the Nebraska Legislature. Monday, Speaker Mike Flood made as a speaker priority LB590, which would address requirements of the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.

LB 313, Tobacco Free Schools, Jeremy Nordquist
Adopt the Tobacco-Free Schools Act and change school accreditation provisions.
The Education Committee heard this bill Tuesday, February 8.

LB374, State Funding including Tobacco Program, Mike Flood
Appropriate funds for state government expenses (includes tobacco prevention programming).
This bill was heard Monday, February 7, by the Appropriations Committee.

LB 436, Tobacco Tax, Mike Gloor
Change provisions relating to taxation of cigarettes and tobacco products.
This bill was heard Friday, March 4, by the Revenue Committee.

LB511, Blunt Wrap Tobacco Wrappers, Mark Christensen
Restrict the use and sale of blunt wrap tobacco wrappers as prescribed.
Sen. Christensen withdrew this bill from consideration Friday, February 4.

LB 590, Master Settlement Agreement, Mike Gloor
Change provisions relating to cigarette taxation.
This bill was heard Wednesday, March 2, by the Revenue Committee.
The bill was made a speaker priority bill Monday, March 14.

A new video from  truth®, the nation’s largest smoking prevention campaign for youth presents the shocking truth of tobacco use: Six real people suffering from tobacco-related disabilities that visibly show the realities of the harms of tobacco use addiction.

According to Tobacco Free Nebraska's "Data and Trends on Tobacco Use in Nebraska," a larger proportion of Nebraskans died from tobacco-related cancer (39.2 percent) than from tobacco-related cardiovascular disease (24.7 percent) and respiratory diseases (36.1 percent). These deaths bring devastation to Nebraskans and their families. 

At the same time, many Nebraskans live with the health impact of tobacco use. 

In fact, about 8.6 million people in the United States are living with serious illnesses attributed to smoking. For many, it means suffering on a daily basis, and drastic changes from their pre-disease lifestyles.

“Unsweetened truth” highlights the devastation of living with tobacco-related health problems. In the spot, six real people suffering from tobacco-related disabilities are featured on a parade float. As the float travels along, spectators can see the obvious physical disabilities each person is living with. They can also hear the half-dozen participants “singing” a tune about the many different flavors used to enhance tobacco products. 

The spot highlights a new fact: Tobacco companies can’t sell candy-flavored cigarettes, but they still sell other tobacco products in over 45 candy flavors.Living with tobacco-related diseases can mean living with the effects of cancers of the mouth, throat and neck; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; emphysema; and loss of voice. Anyone who uses tobacco has the potential to develop such diseases.

Watch the video here.