Nebraska Cigar Shop Smoking Bill Advances

A bill that would allow for smoking at cigar bars and tobacco retailers in the state of Nebraska has cleared its first hurdle.

Legislative Bill 118 passed the General Affairs Committee 7-0 with one abstaining on Wednesday, meaning it will now head to a vote in the full in the Nebraska Legislature. It’s a direct response to a ruling by the Nebraska Supreme Court last year, which found that the exemption carved in the 2008 Nebraska Indoor Clean Air Act was unconstitutional.

Since the August ruling, numerous challenges were filed, allowing smoking to continue until Jan. 5, but it has since been illegal.

LB 118 is sponsored by State Sen. Tyson Larson, R-O’Neil. He believes the language in the bill is clear enough that it would survive any challenges, specifically that it does not interfere with the intent of the Clean Air Act. The lawsuit filed against the original exemption was brought on by the owner of a billiards hall who thought it was unfair that smoking would cease in his establishment, but continue in cigar bars.