HB615 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ronald Grantland

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Frank McDanielHoward SanderfordRandy WoodJoe HubbardDickie DrakePat MoorePatricia ToddMerika ColemanEarl F. HilliardLaura HallMary Sue McClurkin

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Health, smoking prohibited in enclosed public places, places of employment, private clubs, enclosed residential facilities, outdoor areas, exceptions, posting of signs, enforcement by State Board of Health, fines, Smokefree Air Act, Secs. 22-15A-1 to 22-15A-10, inclusive, repealed

Summary

HB615 repeals the Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act and creates the Alabama Smokefree Air Act of 2010, banning smoking in most enclosed public places and workplaces with sign, enforcement, and fine requirements plus several exemptions.

What This Bill Does

It bans smoking in enclosed public places, places of employment, private clubs, enclosed residential facilities, and many outdoor areas with specific distance rules from entrances. It requires conspicuous no-smoking signs at all entrances and on vehicles used as workplaces, and removes ashtrays from prohibited areas. The State Board of Health would enforce the act, and violators—both individuals and certain employers—could face fines, license suspensions, or injunctions. It also includes protections for employees against retaliation, defines smoking to include e-cigarettes, and provides various exemptions such as limited smoking rooms in hotels/motels and designated outdoor smoking areas.

Who It Affects

• Public individuals and customers visiting enclosed public places and outdoor areas near entrances would be protected from secondhand smoke.
• Owners, managers, and employees of workplaces and other public places would be responsible for enforcing the ban, posting signs, and could face fines or license actions for violations.

Key Provisions

• Repeals the Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act and creates the Alabama Smokefree Air Act of 2010.
• Prohibits smoking in enclosed public places, places of employment, private clubs, enclosed residential facilities, and most outdoor areas, with specific exceptions and distance restrictions.
• Requires conspicuous no-smoking signs at all entrances and on vehicles used as workplaces; removes ashtrays from prohibited areas.
• Enforced by the State Board of Health; allows public enforcement actions, injunctive relief, and deems violations as a public nuisance.
• Fines: individuals may be fined up to $50 for violations; employers/owners face escalating fines ($100 first, $200 second, $500 third+ within a year) and possible permit/license suspension or revocation.
• Exemptions include private residences (with exceptions for child/adult care and health care facilities), limited smoking rooms in hotels/motels (no more than 20% of rooms per property and contiguous by floor), and designated outdoor smoking areas not exceeding 25% of outdoor common areas.
• Outdoor smoking restrictions apply within 15 to 20 feet of entrances, outdoor seating at restaurants, outdoor arenas, and around outdoor service lines; smoking is also restricted within specified outdoor common areas of multi-unit housing unless designated as non-smoking.
• E-cigarettes are treated as smoking, included in the definition and prohibited where smoking is prohibited.
• Communications, education programs, and local procedures are mandated to help explain and implement the act; the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health