New Jersey lawmakers appear to be ready to back a ban on casino smoking in Atlantic City
After years of debate, a smoking ban for Atlantic City casinos is one step closer to passing after the New Jersey Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee voted 6-0 with two abstentions on Monday to move Senate Bill 1493 through to the full Senate.
Lawmakers heard arguments on both sides of the topic at the hearing by invitation only.
Nicole Vitola, a Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa dealer and founder of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE), and Cynthia Hallett, the president and CEO of Americans For Nonsmokers’ Rights, began the hearing with arguments against indoor smoking at casinos.
The President of the Southern New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, Christina Renna, and Donna DeCaprio, President of UNITE Here Local 54, spoke in favor of smoking remaining legal.
New Jersey law established in 2006 guaranteed workplaces will be smoke-free, with casinos being the only indoor smoking venues. Presently, 25% of casino floors in the city permit smoking. Smoking was temporarily prohibited in Atlantic City casinos during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was lifted in late 2021.
During a committee meeting in December, it looked like the bill would easily pass through. A bipartisan majority of Assembly and Senate lawmakers co-sponsored the bill, with Governor Phil Murphy stating he intended to sign it. The committee also had a majority of lawmakers in support.
However, Senator Vince Polistina, a former committee member representing Atlantic City, said there weren’t enough votes for the bill to pass, prompting chairman Joe Vitale to not bring the legislation to vote.
The next phase is Senate President Nicholas Scutari posting the bill. If passed by lawmakers, it would go into effect 90 days after being signed by Governor Murphy.
