Kentucky lawmakers pushing for state-wide smoking ban

OWENSBORO, KY (WFIE) - Lawmakers across Kentucky are continuing their push for a state-wide smoking ban.

On Thursday, community members in Owensboro met with State Senator Joe Bowen and the Green River District Health Department Tobacco Coalition at the Health Department to see where the ban stands.

That meeting wrapped up with community members thanking Senator Bowen for his support on the ban.

Senator Bowen held a round table discussion on the next steps to move forward with legislation hoping to implement the ban.

There is currently a bill in the legislature that would prohibit smoking in all public places and places of employment.

Senator Bowen says he's in favor of the concept but a lot still needs to be done to get everyone on board.

"The question is, how do we go about doing that, do we do it with a broad brush at the state level, or do we do it at the local level with local jurisdiction, local governments taking the lead on this thing," says Bowen.

Several cities across the state, including Owensboro, have a smoking ban in place and as the year moves on, advocates will continue to push for the whole state.

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