Pennsylvania Bill Would Ban Smoking in Cigar Stores, Bars & Casinos

Last week a bill was proposed in Pennsylvania that would modify the state’s smoking ban to ban smoking in virtually all buildings other than private homes.

H.B. 1309 would still allow for smoking in private homes, though it would remove exemptions for the following places:

• Tobacco Stores & Cigar Bars
• Bars
• Casino Floors
• Hotel Rooms — Currently hotels can designate up to 25 percent of their rooms as smoking rooms.
• Private Clubs
• Exhibition Halls/Conference Rooms
• Residential Facilities — Adult care facilities, healthcare facilities, etc.
• Full-service Truck Stops

It would also remove exemptions that allows for events like Cigars International’s CIGARfest, the largest cigar event in the world, to allow smoking.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Matthew E. Baker, R-Wellsboro. He is joined by 17 other co-sponsors including 11 Democrats and six Republicans.

Because Pennsylvania has no excise tax on cigars, it is home to some of the country’s largest retailers including Cigars International, Holt’s, Famous Smoke Shop and Atlantic Cigar Co.