2008 Legislature Preview; It's Back! Statewide Smoking Ban?

Publication Date: 2008-01-06

• Author:Meghan Youker
• Publication:KPTM-TV, NE

State lawmakers get back to work this week. The 2008 legislative session opens Wednesday.

Among the things that could directly affect your life: a proposed statewide smoking ban.

The bill would ban smoking in all Nebraska public buildings, businesses and restaurants.

Last year, the proposal met strong opposition and ended up with a compromise clause that would have allowed local communities to vote themselves out. But that wasn't good enough for the bill's sponsor. Now, he's bringing it back, with the hopes of passing a statewide smoking ban that has very few exceptions...

The proposal is one of the first things expected to come up this legislative session. It will be a tough and close battle.

Many of the ban's supporters say they want a good bill or no bill. If it doesn't get passed this year, a petition drive could eventually put the idea, before voters.