Bill To Broaden Smoking Restrictions Passes Louisiana House

A bill that would place more limits on where smokers can have a cigarette is moving to the Louisiana Senate.

Rep. Frank Hoffman's legislation has passed the Louisiana House. The bill would expand on the Louisiana Smoke Free Air Act by prohibiting smoking within several feet of the entrance to any building where smoking is already forbidden. Right now bars and casinos are exempt from the no smoking law, and Hoffman says his bill would not affect them.

If the legislation passes, violators would be subject to a $25 fine. Hoffman says the point is to minimize non-smokers' exposure to second hand smoke.