Panel approves bill giving Oklahoma cities power to ban smoking

Publication Date: 2012-02-22

• Author:MICHAEL MCNUTT
• Publication:The Oklahoman

For the second year in a row, a House committee approved a bill that would allow local governments to have the power to ban smoking in public places.

The House of Representatives Public Health Committee passed House Bill 2267 by a vote of 8-5. It now goes to the House floor.

The same committee passed a similar measure last year. It never was brought up on the House floor. That measure, however, would have given local governments the ability to use local law enforcement to check on tobacco violations, which is not included in this year's version.

HB 2267 would not give cities power over how tobacco is marketed, sold or taxed, said Rep. Doug Cox, the measure's author.

HB 2267 would repeal state laws preventing cities and towns from enacting tobacco use restrictions stricter than the state's...