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IN House approves more exemptions to smoking ban proposal

 

The Indiana House has added more exemptions to its statewide smoking ban, but supporters still think the bill can pass the General Assembly.

The bill originally exempted the gaming floors of gambling facilities, cigar and hookah bars, tobacco shops and social clubs.  But in order to help facilitate its passage, bill author State Representative Eric Turner (R-Cicero) expanded the gambling facility exemption to incorporate the entire property, including any bars, hotels or restaurants.

“It’s not something necessarily that I would like to see but I’ve agreed to it. I think there’s another day that we can fight that battle to make Indiana totally smoke free.”

Bars and taverns are among the groups calling loudest for an exemption.  Some proposed amendments would have excluded them from the law, but Turner developed a compromise that exempts bars and taverns for 18 months.  State Representative Charlie Brown (D-Gary), a longtime smoking ban advocate, says he thinks the wait makes sense.

“Bars are not going to be able to do this overnight so, you know, this kind of makes sense to say, ‘Hey, here’s a warning. You’ve got 18 months to get your house in order.’  Talk to your customers and say, ‘Are you all going to leave me as a result of this?’”

The bill will be eligible for passage to the Senate next week.  

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.