Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Assembly advances bill requiring businesses to post smoking dangers

CARSON CITY – A bill that would require merchants who sell cigarettes to post a sign in bold-face type about the dangers of smoking to pregnant women was approved Monday by the Assembly, 32-10.

Under the measure, the sign must be posted both in English and Spanish, and a business would face a $100 fine for failing to obey.

Assemblywoman Peggy Pierce, D-Las Vegas, said smoking damages an unborn child, and Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, a smoker, said warnings are needed for young mothers. “We can’t do enough for them,” Kirkpatrick said.

Assemblyman Mark Sherwood, R-Henderson, said there are already warnings on a pack of cigarettes about the dangers of smoking.

Sherwood called it another burden on business and said it was “ill-advised.”

The dissenting votes all were cast by Republicans. They were John Ellison of Elko, Edwin Goedhart of Amargosa Valley, Ira Hansen of Sparks, Cresent Hardy of Mesquite, Pat Hickey of Reno, Randy Kirner of Reno, Pete Livermore of Carson City, Richard McArthur of Las Vegas and Sherwood and Lynn Stewart, both of Henderson.

Assembly Bill 170 now goes to the Senate.

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