The bill, which had previously passed the Senate, called for a $15.8 million budget. The center was created in 2008 by voters after North Dakota accepted money in a settlement of a 1998 multistate lawsuit against the country's largest tobacco companies.
Measure 3, as it was known, was approved by 54 percent of voters and requires the state to use a portion of the settlement money to fund a comprehensive tobacco-prevention program.
Rep. Jon Nelson says some lawmakers have "a hard time accepting the vote" on the measure. The issue could be resurrected Friday.