Statewide smoking ban to die in the Senate

Publication Date: 2010-02-03

• Author:Lesley Stedman Weidenbener
• Publication:Louisville Courier-Journal

A House-passed bill to ban smoking in most Hoosier restaurants and workplaces will die in the Senate this year because its leader believes Indiana is "not ready for it right now."

But Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, said Wednesday he expects the state will eventually adopt a ban.

"As you see more and more counties and cities passing smoking bans, the opportunity for a statewide ban increases and will gain momentum," Long said. "I just don't think we're there yet."

House Bill 1131 passed the House 73-26 late Tuesday. It imposes a statewide smoking ban that exempts bars, private clubs, casinos and tobacco businesses. It also allows smoking in the private areas of small businesses where all employees are family members.

Originally, the bill would have imposed a comprehensive ban--with exemptions only for casinos and horse tracks. But the House expanded the exceptions.