As state legislatures reconvene, it’s fairly common to see a number of tobacco and smoking related bills introduced. But a bill in New Hampshire has an interesting aspect in regards to where it seeks to allow smoking: grocery stores.
Earlier this week, State Representatives Robert Hull, R-Grafton, and Lino Avellani, R-Carroll, introduced HB 279, which seeks to repeal the state’s smoking ban in three places: restaurants, cocktail lounges and grocery stores. Additionally, the bill would eliminate a phrase that prohibits smoking in private vehicles “when used for private purposes” as it pertains to being a vehicle for public conveyance.
The bill isn’t all about repealing smoking bans, however, as it adds a sentence to say that the state’s indoor smoking act could be applied to privately owned premises where the owner or person in charge has declared smoking to be prohibited.
According to a report by WMUR-TV, Hull said he drafted the bill at the request of a citizen, calling it a “property rights issue.”
The bill has been referred to the state house’s committee on commerce and consumer affairs. If enacted, the changes would go into effect on January 1, 2018.