Smoking ban bill receives new life

Publication Date: 2009-01-08

• Author:BJ Lewis
• Publication:Denton Record-Chronicle

State Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, filed a bill Wednesday to eliminate smoking in all indoor public and private workplaces — including restaurants and bars.

Myra Crownover Crownover expressed confidence that the bill, HB5, will be approved, adding Texas to a list of 24 other states that have passed comprehensive smoke-free laws.

Crownover attempted similar legislation in 2007. The bill passed in the House but Crownover said that the session was drawing to a close and there wasn’t time to get it through the Senate.

“This year all eyes are on this Senate in terms of passing this bill,” she said.

Crownover said she has seen positive movement in support of the bill and heard the same when speaking to the bill’s Senate sponsor, state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston.

Crownover also has the support of the Smoke-Free Texas organization and the American Heart Association.