Smoking ban remains stuck in committee

Publication Date: 2018-03-07

• Author:Richard Mauer
• Publication:KTUU

A popular bill that would bar smoking almost everywhere in Alaska has been stuck in the House Rules Committee since January, and there's no indication why.

Half the House has signed on as cosponsors of the bill, Senate Bill 63, which passed the Senate last year 15-5. The author of the bill, Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, said he heard that the House committee was holding up the bill as a negotiating ploy, but he didn't plan on taking the bait if that is what’s happening.

The bill would ban smoking or vaping in just about every enclosed space in Alaska except for homes. The ban would include a company vehicle shared by employees, hotel and motel rooms, and health facilities...