LANSING-Today State Senator Ray Basham (D-Taylor) hailed the bipartisan passage of legislation that would ban smoking in all Michigan workplaces, including bars and restaurants. Basham has championed smokefree legislation for more than a decade, and is the lead sponsor of a companion bill, SB 109, that was introduced in the Senate last year.

“I have been advocating for the health and well-being of Michigan families for more than ten years, and this is a major victory today in ensuring they have a safe, smokefree environment to dine, work and play,” said Sen. Basham. “This is one of the biggest health concerns of our generation and a massive burden to state and commercial healthcare resources, and I urge my colleagues in the House to continue their support and act quickly to protect the people of Michigan.”

Last December, the Michigan House voted with bipartisan support to pass HB 4163, sponsored by Rep. Brenda Clack (D-Flint). Following today’s 25-12 vote, the bill will head back to the House for potential concurrence and then on to the Governor for approval. Sen. Basham has worked tirelessly with his colleagues from both sides of the aisle to see that the legislation received a full Senate vote and assisted with its passage. Basham also amended the bill to remove any exemptions or carve outs and ensure that all Michigan workplaces will be smokefree.

Every day, thousands of Michigan residents who work in bars, restaurants, offices and factories are involuntarily subjected to secondhand smoke. According to the American Cancer Society, secondhand smoke is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing 38,000 to 65,000 nonsmokers every year. A study conducted at the University of California, Berkeley found that food service workers are approximately 50% more likely to develop lung cancer than the general public, because many are exposed to secondhand smoke at work.

Thirty-three states have already passed similar legislation to protect their workers from deadly exposure to secondhand smoke, including Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota.

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