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Iowa Senate Committee Rejects Bill to End Indoor Smoking Ban Exemption for Casinos
Members voted to table a bill that could have compelled licensed gaming facility operators in the state to prohibit smoking on their gaming floors.
Commercial casinos and other gaming faculties in Iowa can continue to allow patrons to smoke inside their properties, at least for the foreseeable future. A bill to end that exemption to the state's indoor smoking ban has failed for now, but proponents have committed to continue their campaign to end the loophole.
Subcommittee shelves smoking ban exemption repeal
On Jan. 26, SF 2051, sponsored by Sen. Dennis Guth, officially went into the indefinite postponement pile of proposals in Des Moines. Guth chairs the State Government subcommittee but was nonetheless outvoted by the other two members.
According to Cami Koons of Iowa Capitol Dispatch, Guth expressed displeasure with the vote, stating that "the role of government is to protect its citizens" rather than promote "economic development." SF 2051 is only a paragraph long, simply stating that the measure "eliminates the exception under the Smoke Free Air Act, allowing smoking on the gaming floors" of licensed facilities in Iowa.
Koons reports that during the hearing, opponents of SF 2051 argued that repealing the exemption would put commercial casinos at a disadvantage compared to tribal casinos within Iowa's borders. However, supporters of Guth's proposal argued that worker protections should outweigh economic considerations.
Even in voting against the bill, subcommittee members let Iowa's casinos know that the days for their smoking ban exemption are numbered.Â
Subcommittee member commits to pushing similar legislation
Koons quoted Sen. Tony Bisignano as warning Iowa casinos to change their policies or similar legislation will advance in Des Moines in the future. However, Bisignano was one of the two subcommittee members to vote to shelve Guth's bill.
"Casinos need to take the responsibility and I think their business plan better start to change, and change quickly, because I will be the one pushing this," Bisignano said.
Koons states that the other subcommittee member, Sen. Dawn Driscoll, explained her vote against SF 2051 was due to lack of support for the measure in the fuller Senate. Driscoll has not commented on whether she opposes or supports the concept of ending casinos' smoking ban exemption.
The issue remains pertinent for people in Iowa, as online casino sites for real money remain illegal in the state. The only legal way to play such games is to visit licensed brick-and-mortar facilities.
Proposals to expand the legal framework for gaming so that Iowans could receive offers like the Fanatics Casino promo code have been filed but have seen minimal traction. Online sports wagering is legal in Iowa.
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Bisignano's comments seem to suggest that he would prefer to see Iowa's casinos phase out smoking on their own without the state forcing the issue. However, the arguments made for the status quo against SF 2051 indicate that will not happen anytime soon.
