If there’s one place in the country where it doesn’t seem like local smoking bans are popping up much, it’s Florida, and for a very simple reason. Florida State Statute 386.209 “expressly preempts regulation of smoking to the state and supersedes any municipal or county ordinance on the subject”, though it does allow for school districts to restrict smoking on their property. This line of defense from local smoking bans could soon be going away though, as a pair of bills introduced in the Florida State Legislature seek to repeal that statute and give cities and towns the ability to ban smoking as they see fit. SB 1554, introduced by Sen. Thad Altman (R-16), and HB 4063, introduced by a trio of legislators, seek a repeal of FSS 386.209, which would go into effect on July 1 if passed. Both bills currently sit in committee hearings.
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