Cigarette tax increase among new laws

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Smokers will pay an additional $1 tax on a pack of cigarettes under one of 65 new state laws going into effect this week.

Some of the others that go into effect Wednesday establish an electronic tracking system to reduce the illicit sale and abuse of prescriptions drugs, require felony suspects to provide DNA samples even if not convicted, limit lawyer fees in workers' compensation cases and allow state universities to put up columbariums for the ashes of deceased alumni.

Florida's previous 34-cents-a-pack cigarette tax was among the nation's lowest. It's going up to $1.34 through what's called a "surcharge" in the Protecting Florida's Health Act.