Weakened statewide smoking ban passes House committee, again

Publication Date: 2007-04-17

• Publication:News 14 Carolina

A state House committee has once again approved a bill that bans smoking in businesses across North Carolina. But the measure has changed since it first appeared.

Originally, the bill would have banned smoking in restaurants, bars, private clubs and almost all businesses. It ran into resistance from the full House, where opponents said it's wrong to tell private business owners what they can do on their own property.

The bill was pulled from the House calendar so Democratic Leader Hugh Holliman of Davidson County could tweak it. Holliman sponsored the bill.

The measure now leaves out private clubs and would allow smoking in bars where only adults are allowed. It also leaves it up to local governments to decide whether to ban smoking in offices and factories.