Senate passes smoking-ban bill with 25-15 vote
After heated two-hour debate on Senate Floor, bill will now be considered by Kansas House where it faces greater opposition...
That change would happen at the same time that city commissioners have approved new rules that give downtown bars more ability to create sidewalk seating areas to accommodate smokers.
Mayor Mike Dever said he may suggest that the city undertake some lobbying efforts in Topeka to persuade lawmakers to remove the outdoor portion of the ban.
“I think we have done a pretty good job of accommodating public health and the interest of businesses,” Dever said. “I would like to see that continue.”
Lawrence’s smoking ban has been in effect since 2004 and was upheld by the Kansas Supreme Court.
The proposed statewide ban was approved by the Senate 25-15 after an approximately two-hour debate that was at times contentious. It will now be considered in the House, where Republican leaders have voiced opposition to the bill.
House Speaker Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson, however, said a more limited smoking ban may be possible.
“There are talks about it, I think there’s even talking about are there circumstances where a compromise could be reached,” O’Neal said.
He mentioned Senate Bill 81 as “floating out there.” That bill includes numerous exemptions to a smoking ban, which would allow smoking in designated enclosed areas of bars, clubs and restaurants. But an attempt to pass that bill as an amendment Tuesday in the Senate failed."
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