CONCORD, N.H.—New Hampshire’s Senate isn’t so sure it likes the House’s plan to delay a cigarette tax hike.
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The House proposed delaying implementing the tax increase to attract smokers from other states to buy cigarettes at relatively bargain prices.

The Senate voted Wednesday to ask the House to negotiate a compromise over a bill that contains the tax.

The House version would delay a proposed 25-cent cigarette tax hike in hopes residents from other states, especially Massachusetts, will stock up on New Hampshire smokes. The House rejected a move to kill the tax increase altogether.

Under the House plan, New Hampshire’s cigarette tax revenues would have to fall below $50 million between July 1 and Oct. 1 for the state’s $1.08 tax to go up a quarter.