Smoking Ban Passes Senate

A ban on smoking in all public buildings, including Legislative Plaza, passed the state senate unanimously today.

Senate Sponsor Roy Herron says banning smoking will affect more than those who smoke.

“We can reduce the harm to state workers, those who will smoke less and those who will suffer from second hand smoke, we can reduce the burden on taxpayers, reduce the burden on non-smokers and perhaps most importantly we can help some folks who are currently smoking do what they want to do, and that is to quit smoking. 

The bill is still working its way through the house.  It’s estimated to cost just over 13-thousand dollars to put “no smoking” signs in the more than 500 state buildings.

Several other bills banning smoking in restaurants fared less well this year and didn’t pass out of the committee system in either chamber.