Letter: Go slow with North Dakota cigar bar bill

Gov. Doug Burgum signed Home Invoice 1229,

which might authorize cigar bars and lounges in North Dakota beginning Aug. 1. This can be a step again from a complete ban on smoking in public locations, which incorporates eating places, bars, lodge and motel rooms. In 2012, North Dakota voters enacted the regulation through an initiated statutory measure.

To those that assist this laws, I say not so quick. A public advocacy group referred to as BreatheND spent a variety of years and fairly some huge cash in combating for a complete clear indoors air regulation right here in North Dakota. Their efforts resulted within the passage of the initiated measure in 2012. Previous to that, a variety of North Dakota cities had enacted indoor smoking bans of 1 kind or one other.

I predict that BreatheND or another group will seemingly launch a referendum petition in opposition to Home Invoice 1229. Any opponents would have a brief window of time – 90 days from the day that the governor signed the invoice, and it was filed with the secretary of state (and that clock is ticking) – during which to assemble signatures on a referendum petition and current them to the secretary of state’s workplace to position the matter on the 2024 poll.

If the variety of signatures on such a referendum petition are deemed ample; the laws wouldn’t take impact as a regulation till the voters have had their say on the matter. Nowadays, nevertheless, no group has stepped ahead with plans to launch a referendum petition in opposition to Home Invoice 1229.

Personally, I oppose this strolling again on the regulation which voters authorized again in 2012. Though, it could be extremely unlikely that I might go right into a cigar bar myself, I’m on the aspect of public well being and security on this one.