Kansas House gives preliminary OK to extending smoking ban to casinos

TOPEKA — The House preliminarily agreed Tuesday to take the smoking ban passed into law last year a step further by prohibiting smoking in casinos.

Substitute House Bill 2340 revokes the section of the Kansas Indoor Clean Air Act that permits smoking in state-owned casinos.

A final vote is set for tdoay.

Many bar owners have protested that the law hurts their businesses.

As amendments were debated, many legislators argued that the effects of secondhand smoke merit government-imposed restrictions. Others contended that the state should not involve itself in peoples' private lives.

Bills to loosen smoking restrictions to be considered by Illinois House

Two exemptions to Illinois' indoor smoking ban are going before the Illinois House.

One would allow smoking in the state's casinos. The other would allow local governments to issue smoking licenses to bars and other establishments.

The House Executive Committee approved both bills Wednesday and sent them to the full House.

"Since the ban went into effect, casino revenues are down over 31 percent," said Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association. "It is very clear the majority of the drop was because of the smoking ban."