Smoke Free Texas

See the most current list of authors, joint authors and co-authors of Senate Bill 355 and House Bill 670, smoke-free workplace legislation.

A statewide smoke-free indoor workplace law – proposed in Senate Bill 355 and House Bill 670 – will protect Texas employees from the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure, save thousands of lives and benefit the state’s economy and taxpayers by saving millions on health care costs, insurance, maintenance and other costs of secondhand smoke exposure.

Many supporters attended the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services hearing on March 1, 2011 to testify and/or provide written testimony in favor of Senate Bill 355, legislation that proposes a statewide smoke-free indoor workplace law for Texas. Support for the bill significantly outnumbered the opposition!

These supporters, along with nearly 25,000 Facebook fans, nearly 1,000 Twitter followers, numerous organizations, mayors, musicians and faith groups and thousands more stand firm behind the Smoke-Free Texas effort in the battle to pass a statewide smoke-free indoor workplace law for Texas.

Many supporters attended the House Committee on Public Health hearing on March 2, 2011 to testify and/or provide written testimony in favor of House Bill 670, legislation that proposes a statewide smoke-free indoor workplace law for Texas. Support for the bill significantly outnumbered the opposition!

These supporters, along with nearly 25,000 Facebook fans, nearly 1,000 Twitter followers, numerous organizations, mayors, musicians and faith groups and thousands more stand firm behind the Smoke-Free Texas effort in the battle to pass a statewide smoke-free indoor workplace law for Texas.

The results to this survey indicate that 70% of Texas voters favor, and 27% oppose, a proposed statewide law that would prohibit smoking in all indoor workplaces and public facilities including public buildings, offices, restaurants, and bars.

The purpose of this study is to understand the health and financial impacts that a comprehensive, statewide smoke-free workplace law would have in Texas.  Overall, Texas  would save at least $404 million biennially. This includes biennial healthcare cost savings of at least $250 million.

Of that amount,  $142 million comes in reduced costs from smokers who would quit as a result of reduced ability to smoke ubiquitously. The remaining $108 million is from from nonsmokers who would have reduced exposure to secondhand smoke. In addition, we estimate productivity gains of at least $154 million biennially. 

The Fiscal Note for SB355 and HB670 Indicates No Direct Significant Fiscal Impact to the State.

Results of a 2011 Secondhand Smoke Economic Study Show that a Statewide Smoke-Free Workplace Law Would Result in Significant Savings to the Texas Economy.

A statewide smoke-free workplace law in Texas would result in approximately $404 million in savings to the state’s economy biennially. This includes an estimated health care cost savings of $250 million. Of that number, $142 million would come in reduced costs from smokers who would quit as a result of the statewide comprehensive law. The remaining $108 million would come through savings of nonsmokers who would experience less exposure to secondhand smoke. In addition, the law will result in an estimated productivity gain of $154 million biennially.

A survey of Texas voters conducted by Baselice & Associates revealed widespread support for a statewide smoke-free workplace law.

Seventy percent favor a proposed statewide law that would prohibit smoking in indoor workplaces and public facilities including public buildings, offices, restaurants and bars. Of those surveyed, 67 percent of Republicans, 69 percent of Independents and 74 percent of Democrats favor the proposed law.

The Smoke-Free Texas Coalition believes all Texas employees and customers have the right to breathe clean indoor air. No one should have to choose between their health and a paycheck. Senate Bill 355 and House Bill 670, filed by Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) and Rep. Myra Crownover (R-Denton) respectively, proposes a comprehensive statewide smoke-free indoor workplace law to protect all Texans from the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure.

36 Texas Cities and 45 Percent of Texans Covered by Comprehensive Smoke-Free Workplace Ordinances

Smoke-Free Texas is a broad coalition of organizations that believe all Texas employees and non-smokers have the right to breathe clean indoor air.  Because science tells us secondhand smoke kills, we support a statewide law to protect Texans from the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure in indoor workplaces including bars and restaurants.  No one should have to choose between their health and a paycheck.

Just as the hospitality industry is not harmed by smoke-free laws and ordinances, neither is tourism. In fact, smoke-free policies have been shown to increase tourism in Los Angeles and New York City, and the top 10 travel destinations in the United States have enacted smoke-free laws, according to the American Cancer Society.

Businesses that cater to tourists, including some of the world’s largest hotel chains, recognize the benefits of going smoke free and have voluntarily announced smoke-free policies…

A statewide, comprehensive smoke-free workplace law will save Texas and Texans money by reducing Texans’ exposure to secondhand smoke. Numerous credible studies have shown that implementing smoke-free policies can reduce health care costs and other medical costs…

“As our research shows, even though exposure to secondhand smoke has been greatly reduced over the last 15 years, it remains a public health concern with an economic impact in the U.S. of many billions of dollars per year.”
– Donald Behan, Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and lead researcher for the project “Economic Effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke”

Numerous studies of objective data, including sales tax receipts, show that smoke-free workplaces do not adversely impact the hospitality industry. In fact, businesses ultimately save money on health care and other direct and indirect costs of secondhand smoke…

Secondhand smoke, also known as Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), is a serious health hazard that causes heart disease, lung cancer, increased asthma and other health problems. In fact, it is the third leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. Even 30 minutes of exposure to secondhand smoke can slow blood flow through the coronary arteries and increase the risk for blood clots. A statewide smoke-free workplace law would protect all Texas employees and nonsmokers from secondhand smoke in the workplace….