Legislators to debate smoking ban bill, bar exemption

Indiana legislators are expected to lobby for exempting bars and other locations from a proposed statewide smoking ban bill.

The amendments to the bill may be debated this afternoon in the House of Representatives.

The bill would prohibit smoking in most workplaces and public places, including bars. Smoking would only be permitted on the gambling floors of casinos, fraternal and veterans clubs, cigar and hookah bars and retail tobacco shops.

Last year, the House approved a smoking ban bill that included a bar exemption, but the bill failed after health advocates argued that it would be one of the nation’s weakest bans.

— Claire Aronson