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Senate approves bill banning smoking in cars with children after heated debate
Summary
The Utah Senate voted to advance House Bill 13, making it unlawful for an adult to smoke in a vehicle with children under 15 present; proponents cited child-health evidence and opponents raised civil-liberties and equity concerns; the motion to read for a third time passed 19–10.
The Utah Senate on the afternoon calendar advanced House Bill 13, which would prohibit smoking in motor vehicles when a child under 15 is present. Sponsor Senator Osman framed the bill as a child-protection measure, citing public-health studies on secondhand smoke concentration in enclosed vehicles and proposing a graduated enforcement approach: warnings during the first year and a $45 secondary offense thereafter, waivable if the violator enrolls in a smoking-cessation program.
Senators who supported the measure emphasized medical research about secondhand smoke’s harm to developing lungs and its role in childhood asthma and other ailments. Senator Vickers said protecting children from a confined secondhand smoke environment was a proper use of legislative authority. Senator DeBackus urged colleagues to place the child’s health ahead of parental property rights in the car.
Opponents cautioned against expanding criminal enforcement into private vehicles and warned the law would disproportionately affect low-income parents. Senator Henderson said cigarette use is more prevalent among lower-income Utahns and expressed concern about enforcement and whether public-education approaches might be more effective than penalties. Several senators said they opposed the bill on principle despite disagreeing with smoking around children.
A call of the Senate was requested to make sure all members could be present for the close vote. On the motion that House Bill 13 be read for a third time, the clerk recorded 19 ayes and 10 nays and 0 absent, advancing the bill toward final consideration.
Next steps: HB 13 is placed for third reading and final action; if enacted it would register violations as secondary offenses, allow for a first-year warning window, and include a program option to waive fines.
