State Status
No Preemption
Pending Legislation
Quote
"Any state-level tobacco control legislation should contain language expressly allowing local government authority to take stronger measures if necessary. Local control should be viewed as a public health tool to be protected and encouraged."
Campaign for Tobacco-Free KidsActions Speak Louder than Words, 1996
Massachusetts
Massachusetts' workplaces, restaurants, and bars have been 100% smokefree since July 5, 2004. The law has limited exceptions for membership associations and smoking bars, which are defined as bars in which 51% or more of the revenue is generated by the sale of tobacco products. Massachusetts' statewide success was built upon strong 100% smokefree laws adopted in more than 100 local communities. Read Massachusetts's 100% smokefree law.
For more information about the law, visit the Massachusetts
Tobacco Control Program.
To report a violation, call 1- 800-992-1895 or fill
out an online form.
Massachusetts law does not preempt the passage of local smokefree laws. Read more about current tobacco-related legislation in Massachusetts.
Current tobacco-related statistics are available from the Centers for Disease Control's Tobacco Control State Highlights, 2010.
Massachusetts' 2018 Legislative Session: January 3 - December 31
Legislative SummariesArchives
- 3/8/2019H1310—(public housing)—An Act preventing a public housing tenant from using the premises for smoking
- 3/8/2019H1909—(vehicles with minors)—An Act to protect little lungs
- 3/8/2019H1929—(outdoor venues)—An Act to ban smoking in certain public places
- 3/8/2019H1960—(multi-unit housing)—An Act protecting youth from second hand smoke
- 3/8/2019H3475—(outdoor monuments)—An Act for legislation to prohibit smoking within 100 feet of a public monument or memorial
- 1/31/2019S1244—(public housing)—An Act prohibiting smoking near public housing buildings
Action AlertsArchives
- 7/20/2016Urgent! Speak up today to protect MA kids!
- 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.
- 1/3/2019Massachusetts New Smoking Law is Now in Effect
- 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
- 7/25/2016State lawmakers urged to pass stricter tobacco laws
- 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
- 6/16/2016State lawmakers urge passage of tough new tobacco regulations
- 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
- 2/4/2016Corporate Interests Take Aim at Local Democracy
- 8/6/2015Blowing the Whistle on ALEC's Little Brother ACCE
- 7/7/2015Four Ways ALEC Tried to Ruin Your State this Year
- 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
- 3/30/2015The ALEC-Backed War on Local Democracy
- 2/23/2015Govern Yourselves, State Lawmakers Tell Cities, but Not Too Much
- 10/30/2013Bill regulating e-cigarettes OK'd by committee
- 1/29/2012Ten years later, we're healthier
- 11/22/2011Patrick signs casino bill into law
- 11/14/2011Casino bill edges closer to governor's desk
- 9/15/2011Massachusetts House approves casino gambling
- 8/24/2011State leaders agree on casino bill
- 7/22/2011Snuff out stogies
- 6/4/2011LTE: Policies, enforcement critical to protecting public health
- 6/1/2011Local power goes up in smoke
- 1/6/2011State seeks to make hospitals smoke-free
- 2/5/2010State Preemption of Local Smoke-Free Laws in Government Work Sites, Private Work Sites, and Restaurants United States, 2005-2009
- 7/11/2009Bill expands smoking ban in state
Press ReleasesArchives
There aren't any press releases for this state at this time. Please check back.
State Specific Resources
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