Wednesday, December 09 2009
From: Chris McCalla, Legislative Dir., IPCPR
Approved Bill Exempts Retail Tobacco Shops, Cigar Bars, And Detroit Casino Gaming Floors
Following several years of deadlocked votes and stalling from both chambers, Michigan's state legislature approved a statewide smoking ban bill. The bill, a State Senate substitute to House Bill 4377, exempts
retail tobacco shops and cigar bars that are in business 30 days before the pending statute takes effect in May 2010. The bill also exempts Detroit's three casino gaming floors.
The bill was a product of compromise and support from several different major entities in the state, including the casino and health lobby, and the IPCPR and the Cigar Association of America (CAA). The bill also had the support of most IPCPR retailers in the state. Without this compromise bill, we would have most likely faced a difficult, costly, and likely loss in fighting a no-exemptions smoking ban bill that would have gone to a ballot vote in 2010.
We expect the governor to sign this legislation into law, though that may not quickly happen--likely by the end of the year.
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For information regarding tobacco legislation in your state visit IPCPR.org.
