Statewide smoking ban talk heats up in Texas

Publication Date: 2011-03-08

• Author:John Cuoco
• Publication:News 25

The Senate Human Services Committee voted 5-3 on Tuesday to ban smoking in public places in Texas, including bars and restaurants.

The bill by Sen. Rodney Ellis, a Houston Democrat, now goes to the full senate for consideration.

Opponents say the bill violates the private property rights of business owners.

"It's probably going to cut off a lot of the places I go to, hurt business, and I'm sure the owners wont like it," a smoker, Jared Schmidt, said.

Not everyone has a problem seeing smoke clear out. Supporters of the bill say by cutting down smoking in public places, it also be cutting down on the health risks from cigarettes like lung cancer, and heart disease. They have been trying to pass a smoking ban for several sessions

The bill exempts cigar bars and tobacco shops from the ban.