Florida Governor Signs Bill Allowing Beach and Park Smoking Bans, Premium Cigars Exempted
On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 105 into law, a bill that will allow counties and municipalities to ban smoking in public beaches and parks. However, those potential bans will have to include an exemption for unfiltered cigars.
The bill is notable as Florida law had prohibited cities and counties from enacting such bans, as the power to regulate smoking had been limited to the state. However, after growing calls for a way to curb cigarette litter and reduce the impact it has on the environment, the legislature passed HB 105 in February, with the House passing the bill 105-10 and the Senate approving it by a 30-7 vote.
While cities and counties will be able to regulate the use of cigarettes and electronic smoking devices, the bill says that they are not allowed to further restrict the smoking of unfiltered cigars.
The bill goes into effect on July 1.
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 Major League Baseball, 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.
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