State Status

No Preemption

Quote

"The anti-smoking movement has become more sophisticated in its efforts to enact bans and restrictions on smoking.... They have adopted a 'Pac-man' strategy where they attempt to gobble up one community at a time.... The 'Pac-man' strategy makes sense for the antis because it is easier for a group of extremists to have an impact on the local level than in larger jurisdictions.... The solution to 'Pac-man' is statewide pre-emption."

Tina Walls
Philip Morris

Iowa

All of Iowa's non-hospitality workplaces, restaurants, and bars are 100% smokefree as of July 1, 2008. The law exempts the gaming floors and wagering areas of casinos, but this law is a very significant protection for the health of Iowans. Additionally, the law does not contain explicit preemption. Read Iowa's 100% smokefree law.

To learn more, visit Iowa Smokefree Air.
To report a violation, fill out this online form.

Iowa no longer preempts local control of smokefree laws. The 2008 Smokefree Air Act does not include preemptive language. Before the enactment of the 2008 law, local governments were preempted from enacting clean indoor air regulations which are inconsistent with or conflict with the provisions of Iowa Code 142B, the 1990 Iowa Clean Indoor Air Act, due to a 2003 Iowa Supreme Court ruling.

Current tobacco-related statistics are available from the Centers for Disease Control's Tobacco Control State Highlights, 2010.

Iowa's 2018 Legislative Session: January 8 - April 18

Legislative SummariesArchives

Action AlertsArchives

2/4/2011What's happening in the U.S. Territories and Commonwealths?

News SummariesArchives

7/31/2019States Are Thwarting Cities' Attempts to Govern Themselves
4/29/2019In Washington, Juul Vows to Curb Youth Vaping. Its Lobbying in States Runs Counter to That Pledge.
10/13/2017State lawmakers choose winners and losers through preemption
7/6/2017Blue Cities Want to Make Their Own Rules. Red States Won't Let Them.
5/10/2017The Threat of Super-Preemption
3/6/2017Preemption Prevents Innovation
2/21/2017City Rights in an Era of Preemption: A State-by-State Analysis
2/2/2017Red State, Blue City
1/5/2017GOP aims to rein in liberal cities
9/9/2016How ALEC, ACCE, and Preemption Laws are Gutting the Powers of American Cities
8/22/2016Blue Cities, Red States
6/28/2016Colorado Preemptions of Local Government: The Need for the Colorado Community Rights Amendment
6/23/2016State and Local Comprehensive Smoke-Free Laws for Worksites, Restaurants, and Bars--United States, 2015
4/6/2016From Fracking Bans To Paid Sick Leave: How States Are Overruling Local Laws
4/1/2016Growing Southern cities are increasingly targets of state pre-emption
3/25/2016Beyond North Carolina's LGBT Battle: States' War on Cities
2/9/2016Poll: Iowans Support Smoke-Free Law, Want Smoke-Free Casinos
2/4/2016Corporate Interests Take Aim at Local Democracy
10/20/2015Iowa lawmaker will reintroduce smoke-free casino bill
8/6/2015Blowing the Whistle on ALEC's Little Brother ACCE
7/7/2015Four Ways ALEC Tried to Ruin Your State this Year
6/9/2015Which bills passed and died in 2015 Iowa Legislature
5/17/2015Say no: States increasingly blocking cities and counties from imposing mandates on businesses
5/8/2015State lawmakers hate federal meddling even as they preempt local government
4/23/2015Iowa smoke-free forces renew call for smoking ban at casinos, day after New Orleans' ban
3/30/2015The ALEC-Backed War on Local Democracy
2/23/2015Govern Yourselves, State Lawmakers Tell Cities, but Not Too Much
12/4/2014Eastern Iowa lawmakers push for smoke-free casino in Cedar Rapids
9/30/2014Branstad pessimistic about banning smoking in casinos
7/16/2014EDITORIAL: Tobacco ban in parks but not casinos?
9/17/2013Smoking ban for all is fairer, healthier
7/1/2013Iowa's smoke-free air law marks five-year anniversary
2/22/2013Iowa capitol digest
2/13/2013Bill to ban smoking in Iowa casinos stalls
2/12/2013Panel will consider bill banning casino smoking in Iowa
12/24/2012Governor would ban smoking at casinos 'tomorrow'
6/30/2012Iowa smoking ban not as dire as predicted: Sales up at restaurants, taverns
5/3/2011Iowa House rejects adding casinos to smoking ban
4/21/2011Senate passes gambling bill that includes internet poker study
3/22/2011Anti-smoking forces push for casino ban in gambling bill
3/2/2011Treat Iowa casinos like other firms
2/24/2011Smoking in Iowa Casinos Could End
2/23/2011Anti-tobacco groups pushing to expand smoking ban
2/23/2011Iowa Tobacco Prevention Alliance: 79% of Iowa voters agree : Smokefree Air Act has made Iowa Better
11/8/2010Repeal of smoking exemption could be next issue for casinos
2/5/2010State Preemption of Local Smoke-Free Laws in Government Work Sites, Private Work Sites, and Restaurants United States, 2005-2009
1/19/2010Study: Smoking ban beneficial
3/19/2009Legislature unlikely to revisit ban soon
2/10/2009Latest attempt to change smoking bill is supported by most Iowa lawmakers
1/9/2009Proposed law would ban smoking at casinos
1/7/2009Plenty of tough proposals await Iowa lawmakers
9/16/2008Iowa lawmakers seek compromise on smoking ban
8/4/2008Judge declines to put smoking ban on hold
7/1/2008Iowa Goes Smoke-Free
6/30/2008Information on smoking law available on Web site
6/25/2008Smoking ban near, but rules aren't set
5/14/2008Bar Owners Oppose Exemptions To Iowa's Smoking Ban
5/7/2008Lawmakers react to proposed casino smoking ban in Sioux City
5/6/2008City may try to ban smoking at Argosy
4/16/2008Culver: 'This bill will save lives'
4/15/2008Culver to sign smoking ban
4/15/2008Iowa City officials seek clarifications on smoking ban
4/9/2008Strict smoking ban heads to Culver
4/8/2008Legislators agree on limited smoking ban
4/5/2008Dynamics put smoking ban in odd spot, Gronstal says
3/21/2008North Iowa Council Votes On Future Smoking Laws
3/19/2008Smoking ban goes to conference committee
3/17/2008Smoking ban still smoldering at Statehouse
3/12/2008Update: Bars, some restaurants dropped from smoking ban
3/10/2008House to discuss smoking ban again
2/27/2008Statewide smoking ban passed the Iowa Senate
2/26/2008Senate panel drops casino exemption from smoking bill
2/19/2008House passes broad smoking ban; exempts casinos
1/24/2008Statewide smoking ban clears hurdle
1/12/2008McCarthy believes Legislature will allow local smoking bans
1/9/2008City manager to look at tobacco resolution
1/6/2008Should state or cities control smoking policy?

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State Specific Resources

10/19/2007Restore Local Control Resolution: Waukee, IA
9/2/2009Restore Local Control Resolution: Des Moines, IA
9/2/2009Iowa Restore Local Control Resolution
9/2/2009Iowa: Passing a Local Resolution Is as Easy as 1-2-3