Below is a listing of the latest news on legislative issues and anti-smoking movements affecting your personal freedom and rights to enjoy cigars.  Get Involved, Learn about the Issues, and Take Action!

SD governor signs ban on smoking in bars, casinos

March 19th, 2009, 03:38 PM | South Dakota

(AP:PIERRE, S.D.), MAR 19 - Gov. Mike Rounds says the need to protect people from secondhand smoke played a role in his decision to sign a measure that bans smoking in South Dakota's bars, video lottery casinos and Deadwood gambling halls. "I think in this case, the health concerns top the other concerns that were expressed," the governor said Thursday. The new law, which takes effect July 1, extends a ban that has outlawed smoking in most public places since 2002. Beginning July 1, smoking will be allowed only in motel rooms and a limited number of cigar bars and smoke shops.

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Cigar shop owner hopes for smoking ban exemption

February 5th, 2009, 11:03 AM | South Dakota

FEB 5 - John Boyd doesn't know what he'll tell his customers if the Legislature approves a statewide smoking ban this session. About 80 percent of the people who buy cigars at his Deadwood Tobacco Company stick around to smoke them in the bar. “If I have someone come into the store, buy a cigar, what am I going to do?” Boyd said. “Now, I'm going to say, ‘Buy this cigar and go out on the street and smoke it?'” Republican and Democratic leaders introduced a bill Jan. 23 that would ban smoking in all public indoor spaces, including restaurants, bars, casinos, video lottery establishments, hotel rooms and tobacco shops. Proponents of the smoking ban argue secondhand smoke isn't safe in any indoor environment. Owners of local tobacco bars, though, are worried the ban could spell the end to their businesses. Boyd said there is nothing to stop customers from going online to buy cigars if they can't enjoy smoking them in his shop.

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Smoking Under Fire

February 4th, 2009, 01:59 PM | South Dakota

FEB 4 - Freshman Justin Ebsen recalls many good times he and his friends spent at the bowling alley just relaxing and smoking cigarettes. Now Ebsen and his bowling buddies may have to make a trip outdoors to light up. Senate Majority Leader Dave Knudson introduced Senate Bill 83 at a press conference last Thursday. The bill would prohibit smoking inside any businesses including restaurants, bars, bowling alleys and casinos. Knudsen, District 14 senator, said the bill should pass fairly easily and would rather see it pass now then make people go through the ballot. The bill passed the Health and Human Services committee with a unanimous vote Monday, but failed the senate by a vote of 18 to 17 Tuesday. “Other places when they've seen a ban like this, they've seen that business is probably not impacted too much,” said Ben Nesselhuf, District 17 senator.

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South Dakota panel votes to expand smoking ban

February 2nd, 2009, 02:07 PM | South Dakota

FEB 2 - South Dakota should ban smoking in all indoor public places, a state legislative committee says. On a 7-0 vote, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee sent to the floor a bill, which would repeal exemptions in current state law that permit smoking in bars, casinos, cigar lounges and hotel rooms. The bill's supporters say it would save lives and cut health care costs. Opponents argue it could hurt state video lottery income from casinos and that it infringes on business owners' right to make their own operating policies. "There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke," Sen. Dave Knudson, R-Sioux Falls, told the panel. "Roughly 80 percent of state citizens do not smoke, and the smoke-free workplace would increase quit efforts among our citizens."

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Look forward to a smoke free South Dakota

January 21st, 2009, 08:00 AM | South Dakota

JAN 21 - Take a big breath. What do you smell. That's right, fresh air. According to an Associated Press article, South Dakota lawmakers are split on a proposed smoking ban in all businesses, including bars, motel rooms and casinos. The article said 43 percent of the 82 lawmakers that responded to a survey would support a state-wide smoking ban. House and Senate leaders said they believed the measure had a good chance of passing in the legislature that began Jan. 13. Whoohoo! I'm jumping up and down and dancing on the tables - it's about time. Some lawmakers said they felt within the next two years the ban could pass, and some say it could be this year. The legislature does not need to wait. It's been long enough as it is. I ranted about smoking in a column a few weeks ago, but I feel that the legislature needs as much prompting and praise as it can get for this proposed ban. I apologize (sort of) to all the smokers out there. Yes, it's your own lifestyle choice, but I am not shy about telling people their habit annoys me.

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Senate leader to sponsor statewide smoking ban

January 20th, 2009, 07:52 PM | South Dakota

PIERRE, S.D. (AP), JAN 20 - Senate Majority Leader Dave Knudson will sponsor a bill to ban smoking in all South Dakota businesses, including bars, casinos and motel rooms. The Sioux Falls Republican says the bill would tighten an existing law that outlaws smoking in many indoor work places. Knudson says a complete workplace ban on smoking is what the state's citizens want. Officials with the South Dakota Tobacco-Free Network surveyed 500 South Dakotans in August and say almost two-thirds favor a ban on smoking in all indoor workplaces. A Deadwood lawmaker, state Representative Chuck Turbiville, says banning smoking in video lottery places could hurt business and reduce the amount of money the state takes from electronic gambling. He also says if a business owner wants to allow smoking and loses customers, that should be a private decision. Senator Knudson says he thinks if a smoking ban were placed on South Dakota's ballot, citizens would pass it easily.

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