Iowa House Advances Bill to Ban Smoking in Casinos

An Iowa House subcommittee unanimously advanced a bill that would remove the casino exemption to the state’s Smokefree Air Act on Tuesday, moving the state closer to banning smoking on casino floors.

All three subcommittee members voted in favor of House Study Bill 148, which will now move to the full Commerce Committee.

Scheetz: ‘Excited to be on a Good Casino Bill’

As in many states – perhaps most notably, New Jersey – smoking in casinos has become a hot button issue for Iowa. Of the 22 states that have commercial casino gambling, 13 allow smoking in at least parts of casinos, while nine now require all casinos to be smoke-free. 

“I am really excited to be on a good casino bill this year for the first time,” Rep. Sami Scheetz (D-Cedar Rapids) said in thanking Rep. Shannon Lundgren (R-Peosta) for introducing the bill. “I think this is great for protecting Iowa workers.”

Scheetz was referencing a prior attempt by the state legislature to enact a casino moratorium. That effort ultimately failed, leading to the awarding of a license for a new casino development in Cedar Rapids.

However, the bill is likely to face some opposition – including from one of the lawmakers who voted to advance it to the full committee.

“My general view is when I first saw the bill I’m not initially supportive of it,” Rep. Austin Harris (R-Moulton) said. “I did say that I would be willing to sign off on it in subcommittee to continue the conversation, but as of right now, I do not plan to support in committee.”

Health, Economic Impacts of Casino Smoking Debated at Hearing

The arguments for and against the bill are similar to those in other states. Supporters have pointed to health concerns for both employees and patrons at casinos. An added wrinkle is Iowa’s particularly high cancer rates: the state ranks second-highest in overall cancer rate, and has the fastest-growing rate for new cancers.

“Casino workers in Iowa have been fighting for their right to clear air for far too long,” Traci Kennedy, the Midwest states strategist for Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, said during the subcommittee hearing. “86 percent of Iowans are nonsmokers, and yet casinos still cater to the other 14 percent. Casino workers and patrons deserve to work, dine and game without putting themselves at risk.”

Kennedy pointed out that casinos in the nearby states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska are smokefree, and suggested that Iowa would benefit from “modernizing” its smokefree air laws to match them.

However, representatives of the casino industry see Iowa’s casino smoking exemption as a point of differentiation that benefits the state’s gaming venues. They also argued that patrons could choose whether they wanted to be in smoking areas for themselves.

“We understand there are different arguments about this bill, but casinos are 21 and over,” casino lobbyist and former state representative Jake Highfill said at the hearing. “There is no kid section at a casino where they can run around and have food. Our sections of the gaming floor where we can legally smoke are all adults making adult decisions.”

House Study Bill 148 would need to pass a vote in the Commerce Committee before potentially receiving a vote on the full House floor. Lundgren told The Gazette that it was a toss-up whether the bill will clear the committee.

(Image: Wayne Parry / AP)