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Home   >   News   >   Local News   >   Iowa Senate to Take Up Casino Smoking

Iowa Senate to Take Up Casino Smoking

By on February 12, 2013

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State senators will discuss legislation that would ban smoking in Iowa casinos.

A Senate subcommittee was scheduled to discuss the proposal Tuesday. Casinos were exempted from Iowa’s Smokefree Air Act when it passed in 2008.

Democratic Sen. Jack Hatch, who has supported efforts to expand the ban, says it would be a public health benefit. But he questioned whether the bill would have much support in the Legislature.

Sen. Jeff Danielson heads the panel considering the proposal. The Democrat says he’d like to see updated information on how a smoking ban would affect revenues that come to the state.

Danielson hasn’t taken a position on the bill. He says the information provided in 2008 was that a smoking ban would hurt casino income.