Smoke Ban Rules To Be Discussed Friday

The Iowa State Board of Health will hold a special meeting this Friday at 10:00 to consider the administrative rules to accompany the Smokefree Air Act. The rules clarify language not already defined in the legislation and outline how implementation and enforcement of the new law will take place. If adopted by the Board, the rules will have the authority of law when the Smokefree Air Act goes into effect July 1.

“Because the Smokefree Air Act will impact nearly every business and citizen in the state, IDPH and our partners considered a great many issues to ensure that these rules are faithful to the intent of the law,” said Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Tom Newton.

The Smokefree Air Act was written to protect the health of employees by prohibiting smoking in nearly all workplaces in Iowa, including restaurants and bars. In creating the rules, IDPH and the Attorney General’s Office worked with several state partners, including the Departments of Inspections & Appeals, Natural Resources, and Public Safety, Regents Universities, and many more.