RJ Reynolds Tobacco and Philip Morris USA sued the state of Oklahoma to lift a “smoking cessation fee” enacted in the final days of the legislative session that the companies say amounts to an illegal tax, The Oklahoman said.

Senate Bill 845 sets the fee at USD 1.50 (EUR 1.34) per pack and is expected to generate more than USD 200 million, the newspaper said. In their lawsuit, the tobacco companies said state law requires tax bills to originate in the lower house, not the Senate. They also said bill violates a requirement that spending bills not be enacted in the last five days of a session, the newspaper said.