INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Indiana Assembly passed a statewide smoking ban that prohibits smoking from most public spaces and workplaces, though exempts bars and casinos, Reuters reports.
Indiana??s House of Representatives approved the bill last Thursday and its Senate passed the compromised bill on Friday. It now heads to Governor Mitch Daniels?? desk for signature.
Daniels is expected to sign the legislation, as he made a smoking bill part of his legislative agenda. It would take effect July 1.
State Representative Eric Turner, who authored a more restrictive bill, said he was generally satisfied with the compromise, despite it being "not everything I wanted."
Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson said the exemptions in the bill were necessary to allow passage.
"We can count and needed enough votes to pass," she said.