Bill on public smoking ban dies in the House

INDIANAPOLIS – A bill that would impose a statewide smoking ban in most public places in Indiana has died.\nThe House Public Policy Committee heard only brief testimony on the bill Wednesday before its chairman, Rep. Trent Van Haaften, D-Mount Vernon, said there was no more time to consider it.\nThe deadline for House bills clearing that chamber’s committees is Thursday, and the time consumed considering the session’s top issue – property tax relief and reform – has caused a backlog of committee action.\nThe bill would have banned smoking in most public places, with exceptions for bars, bowling alleys and casinos. \nThe bill’s author, Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, pledged to push the legislation again next session.