Legislation 0

Oklahoma Blocks Cities From Creating Smoke-Free Ordinances

By @phxcigarguy · On February 18, 2013
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The Oklahoma State Senate blocked a bill on Monday that would have allowed cities within the state to create smoke-free ordinances and other measures tougher than what state law already allows.

Senate Bill 36 failed in the General Government Committee by a vote of 6-2, and means that the legislation will be dead for at least two years, which is the term length of the 54th Legislative Session.

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Cities can still seek to block smoking on municipal property, but the state’s attorney general ruled earlier this month that that cities cannot ban smoking in outdoor areas that they own or operate. Earlier this month, Gov. Mary Fallin called on legislators to allow cities to pass their own ordinances regarding tobacco use in public places.

Oklahoma joins Tennessee as the only two states to prohibit cities from establishing tobacco laws tougher than those created at the state level.

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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 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. I previously covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.