The Colorado Sun reported Tuesday that an Altria lobbying arm hired local lobbyists a week before Gov. Jared Polis announced the nicotine initiative on April 24.
Altria bought a $13 billion stake in the vaping company Juul in December.
The bill would ask voters to raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes from 84 cents to $2.49 and to impose a 62 percent tax other nicotine products, including vaping devices.
Revenues would go to schools and health care.
The bill faces tough odds of passing before the 2019 Legislature ends Friday.