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House Passes Broad Indoor Smoking Restrictions After Lengthy Floor Fight, 59-11
Summary
After hours of debate and multiple amendment votes over business exemptions and signage rules, the House passed House Bill 50 to restrict indoor public smoking. The final, amended bill passed 59-11 and was referred to the Senate; members disagreed sharply over exemptions for truck stops and restaurants and over employee protections.
Representative Tanner moved to uncircle House Bill 50, describing it as the product of a task force and scientific public-health findings (he cited the American Medical Association and public-health journals) and urging passage to protect children and workers. Tanner and supporters cited testimony from families with asthma and said environmental tobacco smoke disproportionately harms employees and vulnerable patrons.
Representative Brown offered a substitute motion seeking to delete committee amendments that created exemptions (including truck stops), arguing such exceptions create unfair competitive…
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