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Panel introduces rule to bar smoking, vaping and alcohol in chamber while House is in session
Summary
The House State Affairs Committee voted to introduce RS 32,025, which would prohibit smoking, vaping, tobacco products and the consumption of alcoholic beverages in the representative chamber and gallery while the House is in session; sponsor said the change is meant to avoid repeated temporary suspensions of the rule.
Representative Mickelson told the committee RS 32,025 would change rule 40 to prohibit smoking, vaping and use of other tobacco products and the consumption of alcoholic beverages in the representative chamber or gallery while the House is in session.
“We are not allowing smoking, vaping and the use of any other tobacco product or the consumption of alcoholic beverages while, will not be allowed in the representative chamber or gallery while the House is in session,” Mickelson said.
Mickelson said the measure arose from recurring situations in recent sessions when parts of Rule 40 were set aside. He told the committee he would be open to a friendly amendment to allow “water and light snacks” if members wanted to make adjustments.
Representative Holtzclaw moved to introduce RS 32,025. Representative Palmer said he had difficulty supporting a blanket change because “if we open it up completely it's going to turn into a movie theater and the floor is going to get sticky and the staff will have messes to constantly clean up.” Palmer told the committee he would therefore not support the motion. Representative Barbieri asked a clarifying question about vaping; the sponsor reiterated the list of products targeted by the RS.
The committee adopted the motion to introduce RS 32,025 by voice vote. The transcript records that Representative Palmer was on the record voting no.
Why it matters: RS 32,025 would codify a ban on tobacco, vaping and alcoholic beverages on the chamber floor and in the gallery while the House is in session, eliminating the recurring practice of temporarily suspending parts of Rule 40. The rule would preserve speaker discretion for ceremonial or ‘‘at ease’’ periods by earlier clarification in committee discussion.
