TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Amid a flurry of new legislation in the Sunshine State, two Florida lawmakers are pushing to forbid smoking in public.
The legislation — HB 389 — was filed back in November by state Sen. Robert Andrade (R-Pensacola) and cosponsored by Sen. Debra Tendrich (D-Lake Worth).
Firstly, the bill defines a “public place” as including any common area in the following parts of the state:
- Streets
- Sidewalks
- Highways
- Public Parks
- Public Beaches
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Government buildings
- Apartment buildings
- Office buildings
- Lodging establishments
- Restaurants
- Transportation facilities
- Retail shops
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That includes tobacco and marijuana products, though the bill does have an exception carved out for unfiltered cigars.
Furthermore, the bill prohibits smoking or vaping marijuana products in any airport’s customs smoking room.
While HB 389 was first introduced last month, it still has three committee hearings to pass through before it can go to a full House vote. No details about when those committees will be scheduled have been revealed at this time.
But if HB 389 manages to get approved by lawmakers and signed by the governor, it is set to take effect on July 1.
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