6/24/03-SB566, an effort to curb smoking in public, has died. It was still in a House-Senate conference committee May 16 at the deadline for bills to get out of conference.
The bill would have prohibited smoking in restaurants and most other public places. Exceptions included smoking in stand-alone bars and taverns.
A similar bill – SJR21 – was signed into law June 6.

3/17/03-A Senate measure to curb smoking in public has made its way to the House.
SB566, authored by Sen. Ben Robinson, D-Muskogee, won passage in the Senate March 10 by a 32 to 15 vote.
The bill prohibits smoking in restaurants and most other public places. Exceptions include smoking in stand-alone bars and taverns.
It is in the House Commerce, Industry and Labor Committee. For bill status, call (405) 524-0126.

3/10/03-Sen. Ben Robinson, D-Muskogee, has sponsored legislation that would eliminate smoking in restaurants and most other public places.
Exceptions would include such places as stand-alone bars and taverns, private clubs, retail tobacco stores and private offices occupied exclusively by smokers.
Under SB566, the Legislature can enact it without being required to send the issue before the public in a general election.
It passed the Senate March 10 by a 32 to 15 vote. It now heads to the House for consideration. For bill status, call (405) 524-0126.