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Smoking Ban (DRAFT)
SB 493, SB 660
SB 493 would prohibit smoking in most public places statewide, including workplaces, but would allow counties to opt-out of the ban if sanctioned by a local public vote. Some statewide exceptions to the ban are included in the bill. A stricter version of the measure was introduced as SB 660, which does not allow for county opt-out votes.
Status 08-Feb-28: The bill was referred to the Ways & Means Committee and then back to Judiciary Committee in order to keep it alive past a procedural deadline. Several new exceptions to the ban were inserted by the Judiciary Committee and it failed to garner enough support for committee approval. Consequently, Sen. Laura Kelly introduced SB 660 with the aim of garnering more support with the stricter version. Both bills remain alive in committee, but await future consideration.
Key Players: Sen. Jim Barnett, Sen. Laura Kelly, Sen. David Wysong, the Kansas Health Policy Authority
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