Proposed changes to Wisconsin’s smoke-free law

could reverse years of progress.

Two new tobacco bar bills were recently introduced in the Wisconsin state legislature, and referred to Senate and Assembly committees. These bills are similar to ones introduced last year.

Right now, only bars that were open before June 3, 2009, and make at least 15% of their money from selling cigars or pipe tobacco can allow indoor smoking.

The new proposal would let any bar that meets that 15% rule allow smoking cigars, pipe tobacco, and brown cigarettes indoors — even if the bar opened after 2009. Bars that serve food would not be allowed to qualify. This would weaken Wisconsin’s smoke-free law that has been in place since 2010. (Learn more here.)

We don't have to tell you, these changes are bad for health.

These changes threaten years of progress. We're talking,

• Increased secondhand smoke exposure in public places.

• Unsafe conditions for service workers.

• Added confusion to a clear, effective, popular law.

True to our name, CAHL has a community action toolkit ready. I invite you to take a look through the resources that we've designed to help you understand the changes.

Together in action,