SB541 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: J.T. WaggonerSenator
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Priscilla Dunn Bobby D. Singleton Wendell Mitchell Myron Penn George M. “Marc” Keahey Tom Butler Larry Dixon Vivian Davis Figures Charles Bishop Harri Anne Smith Linda Coleman-Madison Henry Eugene “Hank” Erwin Jr.Kim Benefield Del Marsh Trip Pittman Rodger Smitherman Zeb Little Larry Means Hank Sanders Bobby Denton Quinton Ross Hinton Mitchem Lowell Barron Jim Preuitt
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Restaurants, smoking prohibited in, Secs. 22-15A-3, 22-15A-5, 22-15A-6 am'd.
Summary: SB541 would ban smoking in all Alabama restaurants, making dining areas smoke-free.
What This Bill Does
It amends the Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act to prohibit smoking inside restaurants and to redefine what counts as a restaurant. It clarifies that the usual employer smoking policy requirements do not apply to restaurants, while allowing small restaurant owners to decide whether their facility will be considered smoking or nonsmoking if it is too small to have a designated area. It keeps the option to designate smoking areas in other public places with ventilation and barriers, but states that those designation provisions do not apply to restaurants. The measure becomes effective immediately after governor approval.

Who It Affects
Restaurant patrons and employees: no smoking is allowed inside the restaurant, creating a smoke-free dining environment.
Restaurant owners and managers: must enforce a smoke-free restaurant; if the restaurant is very small, the owner may decide whether the facility is a smoking or nonsmoking facility.
People in non-restaurant settings and other employers: the existing non-restaurant provisions of the act (including designated smoking areas in other places) still apply to those settings, but not to restaurants.

Key Provisions
Prohibits smoking in restaurants; no smoking shall occur inside dining establishments.
Redefines 'Restaurant' and related terms in the act to include enclosed indoor places devoted primarily to selling and serving food for immediate consumption.
Restaurants are exempt from the general employer smoking policy requirements in §22-15A-5; those provisions do not apply to restaurants.
Allows small restaurants to determine, at the owner's discretion, whether the facility will be a smoking or nonsmoking facility if it is deemed too small to have a designated smoking area.
In non-restaurant settings, smoking areas may be designated with ventilation and barriers, subject to size limitations, but the designation provisions do not apply to restaurants.
The act takes effect immediately following passage and governor approval.

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