Each week we share some of the news that comes across our desk about upcoming legislation.. This week we have stories from Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Australia
Arizona – The Cottonwood City Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 620 which raises the legal age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21 via Verde Independent https://verdenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1190&ArticleID=70318&TM=53485.63
Connecticut – The Meriden City Council voted 7-5 to ban smoking in city owned and maintained areas with the exception of Hunter Golf Club. Of the 7 who voted in favor of the ban, 6 were Democrat via My Record Journal https://www.myrecordjournal.com/news/meriden/meridennews/8792198-154/most-meriden-recreation-areas-to-be-smoke-and-tobacco-free.html
Georgia – In Clakston, GA the Mayor has stated he wants a ban on smoking and this past Tuesday it was the topic at the meeting of the City Council. The mayor wants to ban smoking from 30 feet of doorways and outdoor seating areas via Fox 5 Atlanta https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/136467789-story
Massachusetts – While the state senate has advanced a bill that would raise the state smoking age to 21, quite a few municipalities have raised the age to 21 on their own. Those towns include Carver, Norfolk, North Attleborough and Tewksbury. Details on the state bill can be found at https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S2234/History
Meanwhile, Belchertown is looking at a series of restrictions that would ban smoking on the Town Common and raise the smoking age to 21 via MassLive https://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/belchertown_board_of_health_se.html
In Springfield the city’s Health Department is considering terminating the smoking permit for Smokey Joe’s Cigar Lounge due to complaints of second-hand smoke via MassLive https://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/springfield_health_department_1.html
Missouri – Some good news for cigar smokers in Wentzville and the Board of Alderman have droped a city-imposed smoking ban for restaurants and bars via St. Louis Post-Dispatch https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/wentzville-aldermen-drop-smoking-ban-idea/article_d635b5ee-e92b-5b59-91ce-6d20cab9cc4c.html
New Hampshire – In Allenstown, the Board of Selectman began discussions on a banning smoking on Town Property. A public hearing will be held on June 6th via Union Leader https://www.kdrv.com/news/Smoking_Ban_Approved_in_Ashland.html
New Jersey – In West Orange, the Town Council approved a new measure that raises the tobacco purchase age from 19 to 21 by a 4-1 vote. West Orange becomes the 17th municipality in the state to raise the tobacco age to 21 via TAPInto https://www.tapinto.net/towns/west-orange/articles/new-laws-passed-to-raise-legal-smoking-age-and-li
The state is once again looking to ban smoking at beaches. The measure which was release from the Health, Human and Senior Citizens Committee this week now heads to the senate. Under the legislation, local communities could designate up to 15% of beaches as a smoking area. A similar bill was vetoed by Chris Christie in 2014 via Philly Voice https://www.phillyvoice.com/bill-would-ban-smoking-jersey-shore-beaches/
While the state debates the measure, on LBI, Beach Haven has decided to ban smoking on the beach on its own. The measure also bans smoking within 15 feet of the beach entrance via NJ.com https://www.nj.com/ocean/index.ssf/2016/05/beach_haven_latest_lbi_town_to_ban_smoking_on_the.html
New York – The Chautauqua County Legislature has approved a local law to increase the legal age to purchase tobacco products and e-cigarettes to 21 via WRFA https://www.wrfalp.com/21-or-older-to-buy-tobacco-starting-this-october-county-legislature-approves-new-law/
In Long Island, the Long Beach City Council voted unanimously to ban smoking on city beaches, boardwalks, and Park along with other recreation areas . via LI Herald https://liherald.com/stories/City-Council-approves-smoking-ban,79432?page=1
Oregon – In Ashland, the City Council has passed smoking ban that will prohibit smoking on public sidewalks downtown. The measure carries 10 feet into the roadway, so if you want to light up the city wants you to dodge traffic via KDRV https://www.kdrv.com/news/Smoking_Ban_Approved_in_Ashland.html
Pennsylvania – The Scranton City Council passed an ordinance that will ban smoking in all city parks. As part of the new measure anyone caught with tobacco in the park could be fined $25 via WNEW https://wnep.com/2016/05/05/scranton-bans-smoking-in-city-parks/
Australia – The Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison handed down a new budget that includes a 12.5 percent annual increase in tobacco excise taxes over the next four years to 2020 – via ABC https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-03/tobacco-excise-hike-confirmed-as-ahead-of-election-budget/7377936
