Smoking in Nebraska Cigar Bars Just Needs One More Vote

With one more vote, cigar smokers will once again be able to enjoy cigars in cigar bars in the state of Nebraska.

It’s not that the measure needs one more signature to pass, it simply needs to pass one more round in the voting process.

Today, LB 118, advanced in a process known as Enrollment & Review, E & R, the second to last step before the governor can sign it into law. The next step is a Final Reading, which requires a 24-hour period before a vote can be taken. If advanced the bill will then head to Gov. Pete Ricketts office. Ricketts will have five days to sign or veto the bill, even if he doesn’t sign it, it will become law after the five-day period.

The reason LB 118 is needed is because of a ruling by the Nebraska Supreme Court last year that ruled that the provision in 2008 Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act that allowed for consumers to smoke in cigar lounges and retail tobacco outlets was unconstitutional. After numerous unsuccessful appeals, smoking in cigar lounges became illegal in late January.