Oklahoma
Oklahoma state law expressly preempts any regulation promulgated to control
smoking in public places and to standardize laws that governmental subdivisions
may adopt to control smoking. Oklahoma state law prohibits smoking in some indoor
workplaces, with exceptions for private offices, separately ventilated smoking
rooms, and owner-occupied workplaces not open to the public. Restaurants may
have smoking and nonsmoking sections, if they have separately ventilated smoking
rooms. Bars are exempt. Smoking is prohibited in other public places. Read
more about current tobacco-related legislation in Oklahoma.
Rich
Gililand, a musician from Tulsa, Oklahoma wants his workplaces to be 100% smokefree.
Musicians and venue owners across Oklahoma have joined together and formed a
statewide movement called Breathe
the Music.
2013-2014 State Legislative Session: 2/4/2013 - 5/31/2014 (Est.)
State Quitline Number: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669)
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Smokefree & Related News
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Okla.
Gov stays quiet on tobacco compacts Gov.
signs smoking control bill Infighting
in the industries, it appears: Sen. Johnson helps tobacco companies Tribal
leaders challenge decision to not extend tobacco compacts Battles
rage over tobacco measures in Okla. Smoke-free
casino in Oklahoma the exception in the area Okla.
House approves state property smoking ban Fight
over e-cigarettes heats up at Okla. Capitol Tribes
negotiate tobacco compacts with state Tax
plan for e-cigarettes revived in Okla. Senate Supporters
of E-Cigarrettes Rally at the Capitol Alert!
Oklahoma legislators are recognizing the importance of regulating vapor
products! Smoke-free
gaming rooms at Cherokee Casino Pryor's
smoking ban banned E-Cigarette
Vendors Take A Stand Against SB 802 Smoking
ban moves ahead Senate
Approves Municipal Smoking Ban Bill No
more border tobacco tax reduction for Kaw Nation Oklahoma
lawmakers consider tighter regulations for electronic ... Lawmakers
look to keep e-cigarettes out of hands of minors Youth
access to e-cigarettes limited by bill Kaw
Nation to open smoke-free casino As discussions of smoking laws continue around the state, the Kaw Nation is taking a step forward in the casino industry by opening the state’s first nonsmoking facility. ... According to Cynthia Hallett, executive director of Americans for Nonsmokers Rights, smoke-free casinos are needed. "Casinos … Oklahoma
bill limits youth access to e-cigarettes Smoking
ban in question Smoke-free
casino to open as Oklahoma Indian gaming revenue continues to rise Governor-appointment
reform bill advances Capitol
Report, Wayne Greene: Fallin takes smoking issue personally Matheny:
It's a shame that lobbyists dictate health policy Tobacco companies knew smoking restrictions reduce cigarette sales. ... Exposure to secondhand smoke significantly increases the risk of heart disease, ... Gov.
Mary Fallin pushing for a statewide smoking ban that gives cities more
control Smoking
in Oklahoma: Five states that have gone smoke-free Oklahoma
governor fights to ban smoking Locals
choke on Senate's smoking restrictions decision EDITORIAL:
Decentralizing smoking laws ignites new options for local lawmakers Cities
cannot mandate smoke-free parks, Oklahoma attorney general opinion rules Governor’s
tobacco push gaining allies OKC
Mayor Lauds Plan To Leave Public Smoking Rights Up To Cities RUCKMAN:
Tobacco compacts and the manifestation of destiny Fallin
explains her alternative to health-care law, endorses ability of cities
to set own smoking regulations SWAT
group wants tobacco free library OU
takes time to adjust to new campus-wide smoking ban OU:
No fines issued since smoking ban took effect City wants
smoking ban authority: Smoke-free resolution among laundry list OK’ed
by panel Does
2013 offer hope for anti-tobacco, anti-texting bills in Oklahoma? Oklahoma
health leaders look to pass community-controlled ... National
Report: Oklahoma Ranks 7th in Protecting Kids from Tobacco Tulsa,
OKC among six largest US cities with weak smoking laws State
law stymies cities' efforts to curb smoking MATHENY:
Seeking legislator pledges to refuse money from tobacco interests EDITORIAL:
Trend in tobacco tax revenue presents a challenge for states Tobacco
ordinance will go to committee City
Council to consider tobacco-free buildings, grounds, vehicles ... State
putting decision on smoking ban in cities' hands New
Bill Could Ban Smoking in Public Areas Smoking
law to be legislative focus for Oklahoma Board of Health Oklahoma state law does not allow municipalities the ability to pass smoking ordinances that are more prohibitive than state law. The state Board of Health said ... Hard
Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa Opens New Gaming and ... Fort
Supply Schools are now tobacco free Hulbert
board OKs tobacco ordinance Gameday
will be smoke-free for fans Tobacco
ban has potential to change local business environments SOSU
goes tobacco free Southeastern
goes tobacco-free August 1 Southeastern goes tobacco-free August 1 - DURANT – Beginning Aug. 1 2012 Southeastern Oklahoma State University will be tobacco-free. This is in ... OPSU
Goes Tobacco Free Oklahoma Panhandle State Univ. has banned all tobacco use throughout
the campus and all auxiliary property, such as the school farm and the
Guymon ... A new tobacco ban went into effect at OU on Sunday. The policy bars
anyone from smoking or using any other tobacco products anywhere on
campus, including ... USAO
goes tobacco free July 1 Campus visitors and students can breathe more freely than ever as the
University of Science and Arts joins all state agencies in banning tobacco,
… Students, faculty and staff at the University of Oklahoma have a new
incentive to kick the habit, as the university's new smoking ban took
effect Sunday… Oklahoma's
Capitol, other state buildings become tobacco free Sunday NEO
to go completely tobacco-free in August Courtney Crosby, 18, usually heads to a table and chairs just outside
her apartment building when she wants to smoke. She was surprised last
week to… TOBACCO
FREE DESIGN INPUT SOUGHT The city of Oklahoma City wants the public to help pick a design for
the new "tobacco free" signs that will soon be installed in
city parks. Council passed in May a ... Dewey
Bans Smoking In Parks It is now illegal to smoke in a Dewey park. The Dewey City Council
on Monday passed a revision to an existing ordinance that now prohibits
smoking in all city ... Oklahoma
City Council Declares City Parks 'Tobacco Free' The Oklahoma City Council voted on a resolution last week declaring
all city parks tobacco free. … Oklahoma
City Council votes to discourage smoking in parks The Oklahoma City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday
that declares city parks to be smoke-free. But the city can't enforce
its anti-tobacco ... Hard
Rock Officials Celebrate Milestone Oklahoma
County Tobacco Prevention Coalition urges members of ... The Oklahoma County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition has launched a
new effort to raise awareness of the dangers of using tobacco and to
encourage members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community
to take advantage of resources such as the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline.
… Campus
to be tobacco free this summer OU’s Norman campus will be tobacco free this summer after an executive
order by Gov. Mary Fallin negated earlier plans for designated smoking
areas. … New
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino tower topped off Cherokee Nation, Cherokee Nation Entertainment and Flintco officials
celebrated the topping out of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa’s
new 10-story tower on Monday. .. The expansion also provides options
for those seeking a non-smoking gaming and hospitality experience, with
a smoke-free casino floor and hotel rooms. … Oklahoma
Lawmaker Kills Smoking Ban Bill Oklahoma City is one of 11 cities who are interested in banning smoking in all indoor buildings. Tuesday council members voiced their displeasure that one ... Oklahoma's
tobacco-using military veterans will be urged to quit ... but they don’t
have to Tobacco-using veterans living at one of the seven state-run centers
in Oklahoma will be asked to give up their habits in the near future
but likely won't be forced to leave their residences if they don't quit,
according to a letter sent on behalf of Gov. Mary Fallin to the War
Veterans Commission. Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz said several veterans
called the governor's office after they learned that all state facilities
would become tobacco-free by early August. The governor signed an executive
order Feb. 6, declaring that all state-owned properties would become
tobacco-free within six months. … New residents of the facilities will have to agree to live by the tobacco-free
policy, but current residents will be exempt from the governor's order.
… Smoking
law could have saved lives, Oklahoma Board of Health ... On its website, the company says smoking bans go too far when they
ban people from smoking outdoors, except in areas primarily designed
for children; ... Lawmakers
criticized over inaction on cities smoking legislation House Bill 2267, which would have allowed cities to make smoking ordinances
more strict than state law, went dormant last week when it was not heard
in a ... Capitol
Notebook: Smoking, water bills stall South
Rock Creek officially becomes tobacco-free campus South Rock Creek (SRC) officially becomes a tobacco- free campus after
the adoption of a revised 24/7 tobacco-free policy. … House
Bill 2267 restores local rights to communities Internal tobacco industry documents show that several Oklahoma communities
began in 1986 to adopt ordinances to restrict smoking in public places. Lighting
up locally: Amendments weaken smoking bill Oklahoma
House passes bill giving local governments control over smoking
Council
puts out tobacco use on city property ... snuff out tobacco use on all city owned or operated property indoors or out. ... prohibiting tobacco advertising or marketing at city sponsored events. Cities,
towns know best The reality is very few cities will step forward and ban smoking in
bars, parks or other locations. Norman may push forward with such a
bill, ... … An Oklahoma House committee approved a bill earlier this week
that allows local governments the authority to ban smoking in public
places … EDITORIAL:
Fallin overstepped with order OU's plan to ban smoking on campus and create two designated smoking
areas was superseded Monday by Gov. Mary Fallin's executive order banning
tobacco use ... Executive
Order Douses Ou's Designated Smoking Areas Fallin's order bans use of all tobacco products on “all properties
owned, ... part of the Dale Hall parking lot, according to the new tobacco
ban policy. Put
those out: Oklahoma Gov. Fallin bans tobacco use on all state ... Pat Marshall, chairwoman of Smoke Free Oklahoma, said the governor's
order was a step in the right direction, but she said her group intends
to keep ... Oklahoma
Gov. Mary Fallin signs order to ban tobacco use on state ... BY MICHAEL MCNUTT mmcnutt@opubco.com Leave a comment Tobacco products
at all ... be banned effective July 1 under an executive order signed
Monday by Gov. Mary Fallin has signed an executive order banning tobacco use on all
state property. In her State of the State address on Monday, the governor
also said she ... Fallin
proclaims tobacco free week Oklahoma's annual health care costs directly caused by smoking are
$1.16 ... to be prohibited from passing local tobacco prevention ordinances
that protect ... SMOKING
STANDARDS Rep.
Hickman to discuss Tobacco law proposal Honored
for being tobacco free Editorial:
Turn up the heat on smokers Oklahoma
Smoking Rate Reaches Historic Low Boren
hopes to make OU smoke-free by spring 2012 semester OU
going tobacco-free Smoke-free
rebate incentive helps restaurants convert facilities ($$) The Oklahoma State Department of Health is offering a rebate incentive
to restaurants that previously constructed smoking rooms – if they
voluntarily convert their facilities to become smoke-free. However,
it’s unclear how many of the already-small percentage of Oklahoma
restaurants with smoking rooms will take the agency up on its offer.
... Oklahoma
Restaurants Can Get Paid For Going Smoke Free New
hookah bar, vendors coming to Norman Progress
Delayed: State of Tobacco Control Policymaking in Oklahoma From 2005-2011
Oklahoma’s 1987 Smoking In Public Places Act required the inclusion
of smoking sections in restaurants and pre-empted more stringent local
anti-tobacco laws with state regulations. ... No
ifs, ands or butts Several area anti-tobacco organizations have asked the city to consider
writing and passing an ordinance that will ban the use of tobacco in
city parks. ... Readdressing
ordinances Council
rejects ordinances Tulsa
County Health Director concerned about effects of HB2135 There has been much debate over HB 2135 (the proposed bill to overturn tobacco preemption) which if successful, will remove requirements that cities shall not enact more stringent regulations than state law related to tobacco use. Preemption, as both the tobacco industry and local control advocates know, removes a community’s right to enact local laws, in this case, smoke free air laws. It wipes out local control, taking power away from local governments and more importantly, the people to enact policies to protect the health and safety of their community. The tobacco industry has worked tirelessly to undercut consequential local smoke free air laws because their power base is strongest at the state level and they are keenly aware that the only business harmed by these public health measures is their own. The industry also knows that preemptive laws can work in their favor to stop or diffuse tobacco control efforts throughout the state. If preemption was such a positive public health measure you would not see local control or public health advocates working so hard to overturn it, or consequentially, the tobacco industry working so hard to keep preemption laws intact. Local control of health and public health issues has numerous benefits
that are lost when local power is preempted. As Howard Koh, Assistant
Secretary for Health in the US Department of Health and Human Services
has said: “all public health is local - it’s got to start
and be sustained at the local level.” Local controls provide for
greater accountability because local legislators and political decision
makers interact with their constituents on a daily basis, they may have
developed personal relationships over time that makes it easier to have
the difficult discussions regarding community issues. Local policy makers
can craft laws addressing the unique needs of their communities, which
fosters community first initiatives and allows diverse communities to
adopt appropriate protections for themselves rather than a one size
fits all model that doesn't protect the public's health ... Cities
Look For Tougher Anti-Smoking Ordinances Health and business leaders are pushing for a bill that would give cities and towns the ability to impose anti-smoking ordinances that are tougher than current state law. State and local Chamber of Commerce officials and Oklahoma Commissioner
of Health Terry Cline will hold a press conference at the state Capitol
on Tuesday to endorse the bill by House Speaker Kris Steele ... Here
is the latest Oklahoma news from The Associated Press Lawmakers
Busy with Committee Work Bill
giving Oklahoma cities power to ban smoking wins House panel approval
Health
officials push for local smoking-ban allowance Local health officials and politicians met Tuesday night to advocate for legislation that would allow municipalities to ban smoking in public places. The public meeting, sponsored by the Tobacco Free Coalition for Tulsa County, was held at the Tulsa County Medical Society. Oklahoma and Tennessee are the only two states that do not allow cities to create smoking restrictions that are stricter than state law. Oklahoma Health Commissioner Terry Cline called the current situation archaic. “You have been deprived from the right to protect your family from a killer,” he said. The fight to change the legislation will be difficult, but it has a good chance of happening this session, he said. “There are communities who want to do what is right, but they can’t,” Cline said. ... EDITORIAL:
Latest anti-smoking push not likely to fail in Legislature The Oklahoma Municipal League asked this week for legislation that
would allow cities and towns to set their own smoking bans, and there’s
little reason to think the effort will get scuttled during the 2011
session. Momentum for this change is strong and has been building for
some time. Health officials citing the dangers of secondhand smoke have long sought to make all restaurants in Oklahoma smoke free, even those that followed the law and invested in ventilation systems allowing for smoking and nonsmoking areas. A poll in March of this year showed 71 percent of Oklahomans favor eliminating all indoor smoking in public places, and more than half favor a statewide smoke-free law. There have at times been efforts to ban smoking in all public places, indoors or out. Oklahoma is one of two states with pre-emption laws regarding tobacco
— where state tobacco law supersedes local laws. This means municipalities
may not enact anti-smoking laws that are tougher than what’s on
the books at the state level. ... Oklahoma
groups take sides in smoking regulation debate Giving cities the power to ban smoking in public is a win-win situation, supporters said Monday as they urged the Legislature to allow it. The Oklahoma Municipal League was joined by health groups and elected officials in calling for the repeal of a law that prevents cities from enacting smoking regulations tougher than the state’s. House Speaker-elect Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, has said he will file legislation next year allowing cities and towns to regulate smoking as they see fit. The tobacco industry has vowed to oppose the effort, saying existing
state laws on smoking work just fine and don’t need to be changed.
... Oklahoma
lawmaker wants to allow city smoking bans OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Local governments in Oklahoma could soon have the power to ban smoking in public places under a plan legislators and health groups will announce tomorrow. The plan calls for the repeal of state laws preventing cities and towns from enacting tobacco use restrictions stricter than the state’s. Oklahoma is one of only two states with these so-called pre-emption laws. House Speaker-elect Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, said he plans to file legislation allowing cities to decide whether to ban smoking in public places, such as bars. “I am a proponent of local control,” Steele said. “We have a high prevalence of tobacco use in the state of Oklahoma, and it causes many health issues.” Several groups who favor the repeal of pre-emption laws on tobacco restrictions will announce the plan tomorrow at the Oklahoma Municipal League, which supports the idea. A majority of states have banned smoking in most public places, as have hundreds of cities nationwide. “I absolutely support individual rights, but on this issue, we’re talking about having local communities make decisions that they feel like will be in the best interest of their residents on tobacco policies,” Steele said. Previous efforts to ban smoking statewide have failed. Sen. David Myers,
R-Ponca City, wrote some of the failed legislation and said earlier
this month that giving cities the option to regulate smoking stands
a better chance at passing the Legislature than an all-out smoking ban
... VIDEO:
Tulsa Leaders To Consider Anti-Smoking Ban The leaders of the City of Tulsa could soon have power to ban smoking in public places. In an announcement to come Monday, legislators and health groups will announce the plan. The plan calls for the repeal of state laws preventing cities and towns from enacting tobacco use restrictions stricter than the state's. Tulsans, both smokers and non-smokers have very strong opinions about the issue. "Christopher Reeves' wife died of lung cancer and she didn't smoke,"
non-smoker Marci Adams and mother of twin girls said, "it makes
you think of how second hand smoke can affect everyone." ... Oklahoma
City Council sets legislative priorities More money for transit and the relocation of Interstate 40, curbing
sales tax exemptions and giving cities the right to pass smoking ordinances
are among Oklahoma City's legislative priorities. The city council unanimously approved a list of state and federal legislative
priorities Tuesday. ... QuikTrip
Opposes Patchwork Tobacco Laws OKLAHOMA CITY -- Cities and towns in Oklahoma would be allowed to approve anti-smoking laws that are stricter than state law under a proposal by state health officials, said the Associated Press. Tulsa-based QuikTrip Corp. is among the opponent of the plan. Current law prohibits cities and towns from passing laws against smoking in public places that would be more strict than state law. The proposal adopted Tuesday by the Oklahoma State Board of Health
and health departments in Tulsa and Oklahoma City calls for eliminating
that prohibition ... Okla.
health officials propose smoking law changes Cities and towns in Oklahoma would be allowed to approve anti-smoking laws that are stricter than state law under a proposal by state health officials. Current law prohibits cities and towns from passing laws against smoking in public places that would be more strict than state law. The proposal adopted Tuesday by the Oklahoma State Board of Health and health departments in Tulsa and Oklahoma City calls for eliminating that prohibition. One example is a current state law that allows some restaurants to allow smoking if they have a separately ventilated room. If the law were repealed, local ordinances could essentially be approved that would ban all smoking in restaurants. State Health Commissioner Terry Cline told the Tulsa World that some communities believe stricter smoking bans would encourage economic development. ... Rose
State College to go tobacco-free by August MIDWEST CITY — Rose State College will go tobacco-free by August
following a recent vote from the college's Board of Regents and Board
of Trustees. At the board's Sept. 30 meeting, members voted unanimously for the college to end all smoking and tobacco use on campus. Smoking is now allowed in designated areas outside of buildings on the campus grounds. This action will end "smoke breaks” of any kind on the campus in time for the fall semester. ... Tulsa
County facilities, cars to become tobacco-free Tulsa County commissioners voted 2-1 Tuesday to approve a resolution making nearly all county facilities and vehicles tobacco-free.
Commissioners agreed to allow residents of the Tulsa County Emergency Shelter, at Charles Page Boulevard and Gilcrease Museum Road, to continue to use the facility's smoking room. Currently, smoking is prohibited in most county buildings and all vehicles under the commissioners' purview. Designated smoking areas have been created for those buildings, including the homeless shelter. ... Smoking
to be allowed again in some Oklahoma prisons Inmates in a dozen state prisons will be able to light up and puff away next month without consequences from corrections staff. Cigarettes will again be sold in minimum-security prisons, and prisoners will be able to smoke starting Aug. 2, state Corrections Department officials have confirmed. Smoking will be allowed outside in designated areas, said Jerry Massie, Corrections Department spokesman. "It's something we've been talking about for several months, but we're just now writing the policies," Massie said. Okla.
governor to sign smoke-room rebate bill OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma restaurants that created separately ventilated smoking rooms would get a rebate to convert them to smoke-free under a bill Gov. Brad Henry plans to sign into law. Henry scheduled a bill signing ceremony Friday for the Clean Air in Restaurants Act. The voluntary program authorizes the State Department of Health to implement the rebate program. It would allow restaurants to recover 50 percent of the original expenditure, minus depreciation costs, if it converts to a smoke-free restaurant by January 2013. The bill directs the Health Department to fund the program using a
fund that includes money from the state's tobacco tax. ... VOLUNTARY
SMOKE-FREE BILL GOES TO GOVERNOR A bill offering rebates to restaurants that voluntarily create smoke-free environments is on its way to the governor's desk. Representative Kris Steele says implementing the program would fall to the State Health Department, which would also be allowed to establish health and wellness programs in communities and schools. Steele is quick to point out the bill has no mandates. Council
bans tobacco in city parks TAHLEQUAH — Tahlequah city councilors gave their unanimous approval Monday night to an ordinance prohibiting tobacco use of any kind in city parks. A group known as Students Working Against Tobacco approached the council at a previous meeting, seeking the ordinance. Norman, Moore and Owasso already had similar ordinances on the books. The request was initially understood to concern smoking at city parks, but SWAT members told the council last month they’d like the ordinance to include smokeless tobacco. ... Healthier
Living, Smoke-Free Restaurants Encouraged Legislation Goes To ...
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Legislation to make Oklahoma a healthier state through local efforts promoting personal responsibility is one step away from becoming law. House Bill 2774, by Rep. Kris Steele, authorizes the State Department of Health to implement a rebate program to reimburse restaurant owners for a portion of the expenses incurred in complying with statutory requirements for constructing a designated smoking room if the restaurant converts to a completely smoke-free environment. The measure also allows the State Department of Health to establish programs for the voluntary certification of communities and schools that promote wellness and health. "This is a purely voluntary program that will help encourage restaurants
to go completely smoke-free," said Steele, R-Shawnee. "This
legislation is designed to help our communities and schools become healthier
by promoting awareness and personal responsibility. There are no mandates
in this bill, but instead options, opportunities and incentives to encourage
healthy behavior." ... Musicians for Smoke-free Oklahoma is a group formed to help protect musicians and music lovers in Oklahoma who want clubs, bars, music and entertainment venues to become 100% smokefree. Enjoy! You can check them out at http://breathethemusic.com/. Be sure to check out the use of video clips showing supportive music venue owners.
In 2003, Oklahoma legislators passed a law banning smoking in restaurants unless the owner built a separate ventilated room for smokers. Tuesday, the Oklahoma Senate voted 38-8 for the Clean Air in Restaurants Act, which would pay restaurants half of what it cost them to build the room if they remove it and go smoke-free by January 2013. ... Council
approves accrual increase ... That meeting is also expected to be the time the council takes action on an ordinance prohibiting smoking in city-owned parks and recreation areas. Val Dobbins, appearing with the group Students Working Against Tobacco, told the mayor the proposed ordinance should prohibit all tobacco products in those locations. The proposed ordinance calls for a fine of $10 to $100 for those who
violate the ordinance. Owasso, Norman and Noble have already enacted similar ordinances. Smoking
ban eyed for city parks TAHLEQUAH — Tahlequah city councilors could get their first look in two weeks at a proposed ordinance to prohibit smoking in city parks. A large student contingent presented a proposal to city councilors Monday, asking them to consider the measure. Owasso, Norman and Noble already have such ordinances, the group said. The presentation was made by several students while the council and
members of the audience looked at a plastic container holding nearly
5,000 cigarette butts, which were picked up off of park grounds in one
day recently. ... Chickasaw
Nation’s ban on smoking may signal time to quit American Indians smoked tobacco for religious and medicinal uses in 1 B.C., and presented Christopher Columbus with tobacco leaves in 1492. But today, the state's tribes are working with Oklahoma to stop smoking. Rep. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, said he and Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby hope the tribe's new nonsmoking policy will be a model for other tribes throughout Oklahoma. In February, the Chickasaw Nation banned smoking in all restaurants,
food courts and event centers on Chickasaw Nation-owned properties. "While it is not feasible to prohibit smoking in all of our commercial facilities, we are taking measures to minimize the impact of second-hand smoke," he said. The tribe didn't confirm whether the ban would extend to Chickasaw casino restaurants, but Steele said he doesn't anticipate that it would include casinos or their restaurants. ... Poll shows
support for smoking ban OKLAHOMA CITY - Supporters of further limits on smoking in public have relaased anew poll indicating most Oklahomans favor banning smoking in bars and restaurants. The poll commissioned by the Smoke Free Oklahoma coalition found 71 percent of Oklahomans favor eliminating indoor smoking in public places. It also found 94 percent of Oklahoma voters believe secondhand smoke is a health hazard. Legislation to tighten smoking restrictions and eliminate smoking in bars and restaurants has died in the state Legislature this year. Marilyn Davidson of the American Heart Association says the poll shows lawmakers that their constituents favor banning indoor smoking. The poll was performed in late February by SoonerPoll.com and surveyed
1,000 likely voters registered in the state. It has a margin of error
of plus or minus 3.1 percent. ... Legislation
passed by Oklahoma House would encourage restaurants to go smoke-free
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Legislation approved by the Oklahoma House would encourage restaurants in the state to go smoke-free. The measure passed 89-10 Tuesday and now goes to the Senate for consideration. State law currently restricts smoking in most public places and requires restaurants to have separate smoking rooms for patrons who wish to smoke. The measure by House Speaker Pro Tem Kris Steele of Shawnee authorizes the state Department of Health to reimburse restaurant owners for part of the cost they incurred to build a smoking room. ... SMOKE
OUT The Oklahoma State Senate approved a bill Thursday that would allow state regents to ban smoking on any public college or university. The measure passed the Senate 29-11. Senate Bill 1674 was authored by Sen, James Halligan, R-Stillwater, who is also the former president of Oklahoma State University. Students at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, smokers and non-smokers alike, generally have a negative reactions to the legislation. ... Bill
Would Offer Incentives For Eliminating Smoke Rooms In 2003, an Oklahoma law was passed banning smoking in restaurants unless the owner provided a separate ventilated room with bathrooms. This week, Oklahoma lawmakers proposed a bill that would offer incentives to owners if they voluntarily eliminate those rooms. State leaders say the incentives could be as much as 50 percent of what it cost them to build the smoke rooms. Experts estimate about 120 business owners built a smoking room and if they were all reimbursed it would cost the state an estimated $300,000. ... Mazzio's
owner brings support for smoke-free restaurants bill in Oklahoma When Ken Selby did away with smoking areas at his restaurants across the state, he expected to see a drop in sales. Instead, Selby said the sales at the 106 Mazzio’s and Oliveto restaurants increased. Now Selby is urging all restaurants across the state to go smoke-free. Selby was among the anti-smoking advocates at the state Capitol on
Monday urging lawmakers to consider legislation to make the state’s
restaurants and businesses smoke-free. ... Altus
High School students look ban smoking in parks Some Altus High School students are working to get smoking in public parks banned. Students Working Against Tobacco is a nationwide group with a chapter in Altus. The group gets grants in return for coming up with programs to help stamp out smoking, especially among minors. This year they plan to present their idea to the Altus City Council in hopes they will pass an ordinance banning smoking in parks. The students in the group say they noticed many kids use the park as a place to smoke and they say all the cigarette butts on the ground were just making the problem worse. ... Research
finds hazards from secondhand smoke in bars and restaurants New research by the Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center (OTRC) shows that concentrations of secondhand tobacco smoke inhaled in smoking rooms of restaurants and bars are exceptionally high and hazardous to health. According to the study, which appears in the center's new report "Tobacco Smoke Pollution in Oklahoma Workplaces," the average particulate level measured in restaurant smoking rooms was beyond the hazardous extreme based on levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The level found in bars was even worse. "These levels are exceptionally high and not healthy for the employees and patrons exposed to particles found in secondhand smoke," said Heather Basara, M.D., an industrial hygienist and lead investigator on the research. ... Tobacco
Smoke Pollution in Oklahoma Workplaces: Preliminary Report (PDF) Conclusions City
bans smoking on playgrounds EDMOND — An ordinance prohibiting smoking on all city park playgrounds was approved 4-1 Monday evening by the Edmond City Council. The Edmond Parks and Recreation Advisory Board had promoted the issue since last summer. The ordinance does not ban smoking in city parks. “No smoking”
signs will be placed within 50 feet of playgrounds, said Jim Bowlin,
director of Parks and Recreation. These signs would be provided at no
charge to the city by the Oklahoma City-County Health Department. Smoking
would be prohibited in the confines of fenced areas at ball fields,
Bowlin added. ... Edmond
parks board OKs smoking ban plan The ordinance now goes to the city council. If approved, the ordinance would go into effect 30 days later. Board member Dennis Shockley said the ordinance was drafted by City Attorney Steve Murdock and patterned after a similar ordinance adopted in Norman this summer. The ordinance prohibits smoking within 50 feet of Edmond city park playgrounds, including Pelican Bay Aquatic Center, and the fenced areas at all Edmond athletic complexes. ... Edmond
parks board to discuss smoking ban The Edmond Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will discuss a proposed nonsmoking ordinance near playgrounds and athletic fields Thursday. ... LETTER:
Do your homework Regarding "Activists target smoking loopholes" (news story, Oct. 30): Oklahoma bar and restaurant owners act as if our state would be the first and only one to go smoke-free in public venues. Far from it. If Jim Hopper, president of the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, wants to eliminate his members' concerns about losing business if a smoking ban is enacted, he should contact any other restaurant association president in a state with a similar ban. He'd learn that profits at a majority of restaurants have actually increased. The New York Times archives include articles printed before New York
City's ban was enacted. Get the names of all the interviewed restaurant
owners who were worried about their restaurant's potential profit losses.
Call those same owners today and ask them how their profits are doing
since the ban. Do your homework. And when your post-ban profits increase,
remember to thank the groups that pushed for the ban. ... Officials
To Seek Smoking Ban Oklahoma City - Oklahoma health officials say they will try again next year to pass legislation to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. Representatives of the American Heart Association and the state Department of Health announced their plans Thursday. The legislation will be similar to a bill that died in the Oklahoma House last spring. ... Edmond
parks consider banning smoking Earlier this year, the City of Norman made a decision to ban smoking at area parks. Now another city is considering the same thing. Edmond's Parks and Recreation Department is working to draft an ordinance which would ban smoking at local sports fields and near the children's play areas at local parks. Jim Bowlin, Director of Parks and Recreation in Edmond, says, "We'd like to create a more healthy environment for our citizens and set a better example for our youth." Public
housing smoking ban considered A new law could mean the end of smoking within public housing in Stillwater. Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act earlier this year, and President Barack Obama signed the bill this summer. Stillwater Public Housing Authority Executive Director L. Glen Redding said he will draft a revised policy for review and vote by the authority no later than February. The updated policy could go into affect as early as March, he said. The authority has banned smoking in public housing common areas since
1985, he said, and this proposal would extend the ban to individual
homes. ... SGU
going tobacco free As part of its ongoing initiative of improving campus health, St. Gregory’s University has announced it is going “tobacco free” at its three campus locations. The change will take place on Saturday, and under the new policy, tobacco use of any kind will be prohibited anywhere on campus, indoors and out. SGU joins a list of approximately 160 colleges and universities nationwide that prohibit smoking and all forms of tobacco use everywhere on campus (no designated smoking areas), according to the American Lung Association. ... Tobacco
ban begins Thursday An ordinance that bans tobacco use in any Norman city park goes into effect Thursday. Norman's City Council approved the measure at its regular meeting held June 23. The Norman Police Department is ready to enforce the city's tobacco ban. Signs will start going up in city parks on Monday. Norman Police Capt. Leonard Judy said if police receive a call from the public about someone who is seen violating the tobacco ban, an officer will respond and investigate. ... Ambitious
goal set to reduce tobacco use in Okla. OKLAHOMA CITY -- State officials are asking Oklahoma residents, who have one of the highest smoking rates in the country, to join them in an ambitious goal to reduce tobacco use to below the national average by 2012. Achieving that goal would result in 200,000 fewer adult and youth tobacco users in the state, officials said Tuesday. The plan urges Oklahomans to make their homes and vehicles smoke-free and support policies to promote smoking cessation. ... Mayors
snub smoking ban Group in town for conference give opinions on new Norman policy Craig Parham, mayor of Amber, said the ban prohibiting smoking in city parks enacted Tuesday by the Norman City Council would never go over in the town of 500, north of Chickasha. "I can understand it in buildings, but outdoors -- that's a different story," Parham said. "It's too controlling." Parham was one of about 80 mayors, vice mayors and other city and town officials from across Oklahoma who converged Thursday in Norman for the Oklahoma Conference of Mayors 2009 summer retreat. ... Norman
council to discuss tobacco ban Smoke
alarm: Oklahoma tenants get few tobacco-free options Laura Clay says she was being poisoned by a neighbor's cigarette smoke. Clay, 31, of Norman, said she started complaining to her landlord about the smoke coming in the vents of her apartment a short time after moving there in 2007. When her 8-year-old daughter's asthma worsened and her son was born prematurely in summer 2008, Clay quit asking and started demanding that something be done. "They told me there was nothing they could do," Clay said, "that my neighbors had every right to smoke in their apartment. But we couldn't breathe." . . . Then she started calling around for advice. She reached Doug Matheny, tobacco use prevention chief for the state Health Department. He said secondhand smoke exposure in multi-unit housing like apartment complexes is an issue he regularly gets calls about. Municipalities and counties across the country, including areas in Washington, California and Minnesota, have already banned or restricted smoking in multi-unit or public housing. Matheny said Oklahoma isn't looking at policy options, but officials want to educate people about the health risks. Percy Brown, project coordinator for the Tobacco Free Zone program, is working on a research project examining smoking trends in three of the Tulsa Housing Authority's 14 communities. ... Oklahoma
committee waters down smoking ban bill Intro: "It's going to happen," said Senate author David Myers, R-Ponca
City. Myers said only about 120 of the 7,000 restaurants in the state still have the special rooms. The issue was referred Thursday to an eight-member task force comprised of House and Senate representatives along with others concerned, like the state health department, associations dealing with cancer and lung problems and also bar and restaurant representatives. Bill
would ban smoking in restaurants OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Supporters of legislation that would ban smoking in restaurants and most other public places say a new poll shows it has lots of public support. Results of the poll were released Tuesday by representatives of the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and other groups. It shows 59% of those surveyed support a law that would eliminate smoking and smoking sections in public places. Only 37% oppose it. Lawmakers
Asked to Expand Smoking Ban Tonight we’re experiencing a clash of individual rights: the right to smoke and the right to breathe clean air. In Oklahoma, there is new debate over whether to expand the ban on smoking in all indoor public places and workplaces. FOX 23’s Kaci Christian has the latest on this. Opinions are strongly divided Bill
targets smoking rooms The Oklahoma Restaurant Association is opposed to a measure that aims to abolish smoking rooms. Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City, has filed Senate Bill 1036, which would abolish separately ventilated smoking rooms by Sept. 1, 2010. It would ban new or existing restaurants from adding designated smoking rooms after Sept. 1, 2009. During the last legislative session, Myers' Senate Bill 1875 -- which would have wiped out smoking in all restaurants, taverns, bars and hotels -- had too few votes to pass. Myers said the time frame of his current legislation would allow restaurant
owners who built the rooms in response to a 2003 law to depreciate the
costs. Report:
Smoking ban hasn't hurt restaurant industry A report released Tuesday by the Oklahoma State Department of Health shows that a law restricting smoking in public places has not had an adverse impact on the restaurant industry. In 2006, restaurants had to create separately ventilated and enclosed
rooms if they wanted to allow smoking. The law also puts restrictions
on smoking in public places. Legislation introduced last session would have wiped out the separate smoking rooms. It died, with opponents saying they didn’t want to hurt businesses that spent resources to build the rooms as a result of the law. Public health advocates are expected to look to the Legislature to support laws closing the loopholes that allow smoking in certain indoor workplaces and public places, said Bob Miner, Oklahoma State Department of Health clean indoor air coordinator. Restaurant Owner Urges Peers to Go Smoke-Free Longtime Oklahoma City restaurateur Don Coit says he wasted $65,000 building separate rooms to accommodate smokers at his three Coit's eateries. Coit, who specializes in root beer, urged restaurant owners and operators Wednesday not to make the same financial blunder -- and to go smoke-free immediately. He and other anti-tobacco advocates kicked off a campaign addressing a key aspect of a state law restricting smoking in public places and work environments. The law goes into effect Monday, but restaurants have until March 1, 2006, to fully comply with the law designed to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke. . . "We tried all different smoking policies. A year ago, we built separately ventilated rooms for smokers, but they were hardly used, so we went smoke-free and it's working out great," Don Coit said. "We should have gone smoke-free in the first place." News summaries provided by the Tobacco
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