SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today signed
legislation that gives Illinois counties and
municipalities the ability to ban smoking in public
places. Senate Bill 2400, sponsored by Sen. John J.
Cullerton (D-Chicago) and Rep. Karen A. Yarbrough
(D-Broadview), amends the Illinois Clean Indoor Air
Act to allow non-home rule municipalities and
counties to prohibit smoking. Smoking bans in
counties would affect all unincorporated
areas within the county. Before, home rule units of
local government and any municipality could regulate
smoking in public places.
“This law puts the decision about whether to ban
smoking in public places in the hands of local
governments. It gives people the ability to decide
what’s best for their communities,” said Gov.
Blagojevich.
SB 2400 expands the current law to allow communities
to regulate smoking in all enclosed public places,
such as restaurants, bars and bowling alleys. Last
August, Governor Blagojevich signed House Bill 672 -
which gave Illinois municipalities the ability to
adopt their own anti-smoking regulations.
“Giving counties the power to ban smoking in public
places is another step forward in the fight against
exposure to secondhand smoke,” said Sen. Cullerton.
“Those who live in unincorporated areas should be
able to decide for themselves whether a smoking ban
makes sense, just as those who live in
municipalities already can.”
