Smoking Ban Snuffed Out by Texas Senate

A proposed bill that would ban smoking in bars and restaurants has been shot down by the Texas Senate. The smoking ban bill had been attached to the critical spending bill by supporters in hopes that it would pass, however senators announced today that the ban was stripped out the final draft put before the Legislature.

Supporters said the bill would save thousands of dollars in health costs however those against the bill said it was too invasive. The bill came close to passing this time. Lawmakers stripped the ban out of legeslation because they didn’t want to risk losing the spending bill and its critical school finance provisions by tying it to a controversial measure like the smoking ban.