Subscribe to Cigar Rights of America RSS feeds and get the most up-to-date cigar-related legislative news for South Dakota. http://www.cigarrights.org/xml/news/news_SD.xml http://www.cigarrights.org/favicon.ico http://www.cigarrights.org/images/CRA08small.jpg en-us 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. http://www.thechampiononline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090121/NEWS/90120004 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 6:00 -0800 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. http://www.kxnet.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=322224 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:52 -0800 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. http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2009/02/05/news/local/doc4986d3b767f12229593452.txt Thu, 5 Feb 2009 9:03 -0800 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. http://www.volanteonline.com/news/smoking_under_fire-1.1353373 Wed, 4 Feb 2009 11:59 -0800 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." http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/02/02/ap5995833.html Mon, 2 Feb 2009 12:07 -0800 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. http://news.ino.com/headlines/?newsid=6897178184790 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:38 -0800 South Dakota Under the new South Dakota smoking law any public place or place of employment that has a floor, ceiling, and walls all around is required to be smoke free with violators getting slapped with a $25 penalty. However, unlike other state's bans repeat offenders aren't penalized more. "If somebody gets caught smoking in a public place it's always going to be a petty offense the penalty does not increase the number of times they are caught." Said Officer Sam Clemens. http://www.ksfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=13479588 10 Nov 2010 11:11 -0800 South Dakota The smoking ban passed in November that South Dakota voters thought was pretty clear is proving instead to be hazy. While most of the owners of Yankton’s bars, restaurants and casinos have ensured that smoking no longer takes place in their establishments, one business is taking a different approach that is leaving some citizens fuming. Since the ban took effect Nov. 10, there have been at least five reports to police of people smoking at Tobacco Road in the 900 block of Broadway Avenue. The latest report was received Friday evening, though when police arrived they found no one smoking and ash trays in the establishment clean. http://www.yankton.net/articles/2010/12/21/community/doc4d101e5ecebfc077343369.txt 21 Dec 2010 11:11 -0800 South Dakota DEADWOOD, SD - South Dakota has been smoke-free for nearly two months now and with revenues declining in casinos across the state the legislature may look at tweaking the law in the upcoming session. In November, South Dakota voters decided to cut off smoking in bars, restaurants and casinos cold turkey, and now casinos in the state are starting to feel the withdrawls of the smoke-free law. "People aren't coming and that's just a fact of life. We've noticed it almost immediately in the middle of November when the smoking ban started," Republican Senator Tom Nelson of Lead said. http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6373.cfm?Id=108915 11 Jan 2011 11:11 -0800 South Dakota Ann Stern sits at a table outside Vino 100 and the Tinder Box Cigar Bar in Rapid City laughing with friends, drinking an adult beverage and smoking a large cigar. “It’s my go-to treat,” the 26-year-old said. The Petit Corona imparts notes of honey and cream when smoked. Stern, who is originally from Sioux Falls but is working in Rapid City for the summer, said she has been smoking the cigars for about four years. http://rapidcityjournal.com/lifestyles/newest-cigar-aficionados-are-somethings/article_cc99d1de-b489-11e0-87d1-001cc4c002e0.html 24 Jul 2011 11:11 -0800 South Dakota Deadwood casinos that have blamed the smoking ban for a loss in revenue over the past year could get a break if state Sen. Tom Nelson, R-Lead, gets his way. Nelson has drafted legislation that will exempt Deadwood casinos from the smoking ban. The voter-approved ban that was enacted in November 2010 is being blamed for a drop in gambling revenue, which is the main reason an exemption should be considered, according to the state senator. http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/communities/lead-deadwood/nelson-wants-casino-smoking-ban-lifted/article_3dab0b9e-3023-11e1-afaa-001871e3ce6c.html 27 Dec 2011 11:11 -0800 South Dakota