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Cigar-bar endorsement clears committee despite health concerns; amendment defining 'premium cigar' fails
Summary
Senate Bill 150 to create a cigar-bar endorsement passed out of the Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee 6–5 after debate over worker exposure and definitions of 'premium cigars'; a proposed amendment that would have modified humidor size and other definitions failed 4–7.
Senate Bill 150, which would create a cigar‑bar alcoholic-beverage endorsement, drew heated debate in the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee over indoor-air quality and employee safety before passing on a narrow 6–5 roll-call vote.
Committee discussion focused on the bill’s definitions and operational details. Staff and the sponsor described an amendment that would define the endorsement to apply only to ‘‘premium cigars’’ (products "wrapped in whole leaf tobacco... made by manually combining the wrapper, filler, and binder") and to require a humidor of a minimum size. The committee considered the amendment but it failed on roll call (4–7). A sponsor aide summarized the premium‑cigar definition during debate: "premium cigars... wrapped in whole leaf tobacco... made by manually combining the wrapper, filler, and binder. No filter, tip, or non tobacco mouthpiece."
Opponents warned the endorsement would undermine Montana’s Clean Indoor Air Act and expose employees to second‑hand smoke. Senator Morgeau said she "cannot get behind this bill because of the Clean Indoor Act" and described personal experience with a family member who died of lung cancer. Supporters framed the measure as a business‑choice and zoning matter; proponents argued the endorsement would serve a small market of higher‑end cigar venues and that employees often choose to work there.
After extended debate on health risks, humidor size and whether wait staff or employees should be exempted, the committee conducted a roll-call on the bill as offered. The clerk recorded 6 senators voting yes and 5 no; SB150 passed the committee and will move to the Senate floor as reported out of Business, Labor and Economic Affairs.
The transcript shows the committee grappled with worker-safety concerns, ventilation questions, and the definition of premium cigars, and the amendment that would have tightened the language failed while the bill itself passed.
