State Status

Any Preemption

News Summary

Bid for statewide smoking ban fails

Publication Date: 2005-04-14

Author:NATE JENKINS
Publication:Lincoln Journal Star

After another three hours of heated and often meandering debate, state senators voted 19-26 to nix a proposed statewide ban on smoking in many workplaces, keeping Lincoln as the only place in the state with a strict no-smoking law...

Introduced by Sen. Nancy Thompson of Papillion, LB480 was similar to those and other failed statewide plans. Her bill would have banned smoking in many workplaces, including restaurants, but exempted bars that serve just snacks or other foods that don't require preparation.

Leading up to Wednesday's final vote, Thompson agreed to some concessions she thought might garner enough support for the bill. Among them was an amendment to allow smoking in bars where minors are permitted...