Smoking in most public and private workplaces — including restaurants and bars — could become illegal in Texas, if the state Legislature passes a bill sponsored by Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton.

Crownover said the bill, filed Wednesday, would help protect employees all over Texas from the risks associated with second-hand smoke.

“It’s not about whether you should or should not smoke,” Crownover said. “It’s about respect for our workers.”

The bill comes on the heels of a similar bill filed in the Senate last week.

Some business owners, though, said the bill infringes on their rights and could lead to more stringent regulations.

“I’m not saying I’m for or against smoking,” said Bob Harmon, co-owner of Sweetwater Grill & Tavern in Denton. “But my concern is if they’re going to tell us that restaurants can’t have smoking, are they going to tell us what we can put on our menus?”

Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, who sponsored the Senate version of the bill, could not be reached for comment Thursday. However, in a Feb. 1 news release, Ellis said the legislation is needed because 53,000 Americans die every year from lung cancer due to first- and second-hand smoke.

“Now is the time to act,” he said in the news release. “Cities across the state are moving on this issue. It’s time for Texas to move forward.”

Other local business owners have concerns about the legislation, but are open to the debate.

“I think if it’s statewide, it won’t be that detrimental to most of us,” said Ken Willis, co-owner of two Denton restaurants: Ruby’s Diner on the Square and Beth Marie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor & Soda Fountain. “To me, it makes more sense to do it that way than town by town,” he said.

Restaurants in cities bordering other states might find themselves in a competitive situation where smoking customers opt to cross state lines, Willis added.

“They might get kind of screwed, especially border towns like Texarkana,” he said.

Crownover said she understands that some people will oppose the legislation, but pointed to a recent statewide poll by Baselice and Associates that showed 66 percent of Texans would favor a “comprehensive law to eliminate smoking in all indoor workplaces.”

“I think there will be opposition during the transition,” Crownover said. “But, like not smoking on airplanes, people will warm up to the idea.”

Similar laws are already on the books in 16 states, including California, New York, Massachusetts and Kentucky.

Denton Chamber of Commerce President Chuck Carpenter said that “no smoking” rules are already in place in most work places, so that limits the number of businesses this would affect.

“It looks like your main impacted classifications would be where alcohol was predominantly served,” he said. “And remember, we’re a college town.”

The chamber doesn’t have an official opinion on the issue, he said.

Violating the law, be it user or employer, would be a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Crownover represents District 64 in the House, which includes portions of Denton County — Denton, Lake Dallas, Corinth, Shady Shores, Hickory Creek, Lakewood Village, Little Elm, Oak Point and The Colony north of 121.