Philip Morris International and its U.S. businesses (PMI U.S.) have invested more than $20 billion since 2022 to acquire, and invest in, U.S. manufacturing capabilities, commercial rights, infrastructure and jobs.

Most of the investments, totaling $19 billion, occurred in 2022, including acquisition of Swedish Match, which generates most of its revenue in the U.S. Since then, PMI U.S. has invested more than $1 billion, as of Sept. 30, including investments in Colorado, Kentucky and North Carolina, which are expected to generate more than 1,000 direct and 1,500 indirect jobs. Economic impact from those investments is estimated at more than $800 million.

“We’re investing in the country’s future, starting with accelerating the shift to a smoke-free America, a nation free from cigarettes,” PMI U.S. CEO Stacey Kennedy said.

“Being fully invested in America begins with making better products and leading an industry transformation responsibly, but it extends far beyond that. Guided by innovation, a sustained focus on impact, and a deep commitment to the communities where we live and work, we’re creating high-quality, high-skill jobs and strengthening the places that power our workforce.”

PMI U.S. investments add to the more than $35 million in charitable giving the company has pledged since 2022, with nearly $12 million donated in 2025 across nearly 600 nonprofit organizations in 47 states and the District of Columbia.

“PMI U.S. expects to make substantial additional investments in manufacturing, operations, and people, further supporting U.S. jobs and legal-age nicotine consumers — ensuring the 30 million U.S. adults who still smoke cigarettes have access to better, science-based alternatives,” Kennedy said.

PMI U.S. is a major American employer, growing its workforce from just several hundred employees to more than 3,000 today, with a modern mission of establishing modern nicotine to deliver a smoke-free America. The company plans to continue growth and increase its investments following the launch of its IQOS ILUMA product, which is awaiting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization.

The company has committed itself to driving innovation and helping adult smokers 21 and older switch to less harmful alternatives, including heated tobacco.

The company is leading the smoke-free transition in the U.S. through both heated tobacco and nicotine pouches. The company’s affiliates hold 80% of all modified risk tobacco product authorizations and 41% of premarket tobacco product application marketing granted orders from the FDA, including ZYN, the nation’s most popular smoke-free product.

PMI U.S. announced in September it had made $1.3 million in philanthropic efforts in Florida alone in 2021, including advocacy for veterans, supporting literacy and funding student scholarships through the state’s school choice programs.

That includes a $100,000 donation to the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund for its Critical Dental Assistance Program providing vital dental services to disabled veterans across the state.

In November, PMI U.S. entered into a partnership with the Urban League of Broward County with a $400,000, three-year donation designed to expand economic opportunity for small businesses and accelerate economic development across South Florida.

Aspiring lawyers may soon have more paths to a legal career.

In a 5-1 decision, the Florida Supreme Court amended its rule making the American Bar Association (ABA) “the sole accrediting agency for law schools whose graduates are eligible to sit for this state’s General Bar Examination.”

The revision will “expand the accrediting agencies by which a law school may be approved or provisionally approved” to allow law school graduates to take the Bar.

The opinion, which follows the lead of Texas, was issued after Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier called for alternative accreditors, with the former taking issue with the ABA’s “progressive agenda” and the latter criticizing the organization as “woke” and accusing it of discriminating against Catholics.

“Mission accomplished,” exulted Jason Weida, Chief of Staff for the Governor.

The high court started a workgroup last year to explore alternatives to the ABA given its perceived political stances and “accreditation standards on racial and ethnic diversity in law schools,” with an eye toward trying to “reduce Florida’s near-exclusive reliance on the ABA while promoting greater flexibility and innovation in legal education.”

That study provided the framework for the rule revision.

“Based on its independent study and its consideration of the workgroup’s report, the Court is persuaded that it is not in Floridians’ best interest for the ABA to be the sole gatekeeper deciding which law schools’ graduates are eligible to sit for the state’s General Bar Examination and become licensed attorneys in Florida,” reads the opinion, which was led by Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz, with Justices John Couriel, Jamie Grosshans, Renatha Francis and Meredith Sasso concurring.

“Instead, the rule changes create the opportunity for additional entities to carry out an accrediting and gatekeeping function on behalf of the Court.”

The revised rule opens the door “to a programmatic accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education to accredit programs in legal education that lead to the first professional degree in law or an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education to accredit institutions of higher education, provided the institutional accrediting agency is also approved by the Court.”

In a dissent, Justice Jorge Labarga worried about “detrimental” consequences for “replacing an established entity with an unknown alternative.”