Full NC House gives initial OK to tax bill

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The North Carolina House has tentatively agreed to a wide-ranging tax bill that caps municipal business privilege taxes and places an excise tax on electronic cigarettes.

The chamber voted 83-35 for the measure Tuesday after a majority turned back an effort to remove the e-cigarette tax from the bill. A final House vote is expected Wednesday before the bill heads to the Senate.

The bill limits local privilege taxes to $100 per year and puts a 5-cent tax on certain-sized cartridges of nicotine inserted into an e-cigarette holder.      Rep. Becky Carney of Charlotte says the House was acting hastily on the e-cigarette tax while federal officials are working on how to regulate them. But bill sponsor Rep. Julia Howard of Mocksville suggested it was better than collecting no excise tax.

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