Nebraska Legislature passes statewide smoking ban

Publication Date: 2008-02-22

• Author:MARTHA STODDARD
• Publication:Omaha (NE) World Herald

The Legislature today cleared the air in all public buildings and workplaces across the state.

Voting 34-14, lawmakers passed Legislative Bill 395 after cutting off a last-minute filibuster by the bill's opponents.

Introduced by State Sen. Joel Johnson of Kearney, LB 395 is modeled after Lincoln's smoking ban.

If signed into law by Gov. Dave Heineman, it would prohibit smoking in all public buildings and workplaces statewide, including bars and restaurants.

It would make exceptions only for tobacco shops, some hotel rooms and laboratories used for research on smoking.