Lighting up a cigar in Indiana cigar shops could come to an end this summer if a recently introduced piece of legislature gets approval from state leaders.

H.B. 1313, introduced by state Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, would remove all exemptions to the state’s law on where smoking is permitted, a move that would prohibit cigar shops and lounges from allowing customers to smoke within said establishments.

Also losing exemptions would be bars and taverns, horse racing facilities, riverboats, gambling facilities, hookah lounges, private clubs, and tobacco manufacturing facilities. Brown has been seeking a complete ban on smoking indoors for several years, and has been trying to limit exemptions since 2012.

The bill seeks to remove the exemptions as of July 1. It has been referred to the Indiana House Committee on Public Health.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.