Illinois to Celebrate Smoke Free Act 15th Anniversary

This week, Illinois legislators introduced joint resolutions in the Illinois House and Senate marking the 15th anniversary of the passage of the Smoke Free Illinois Act, which prohibits smoking in almost all public places and workplaces. The American Lung Association in Illinois’ Advocacy Director, Kristina Hamilton, issued the following statement:

“The Lung Association celebrates fifteen years since the passage of Illinois’ Smoke Free Illinois Act. Thank you to Representative Camille Lilly (D-IL) and Senator Julie Morrison (D-IL) for introducing these resolutions (HJR75 and SJR51) commemorating the anniversary and for their support of effective policies to reduce tobacco use in Illinois. Although we have seen significant progress in tobacco prevention and control, we must continue to protect and strengthen the Smoke Free Illinois Act. Therefore, we urge the Illinois Department of Public Health to, by 2023, provide a data brief on the law’s impact since 2013 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the Act and further educate on the need to protect clean indoor air.”

The Smoke Free Illinois Act was enacted on January 1, 2008, and the last report on the law’s effects on the state was released in December 2012. These joint resolutions will now move to the full Illinois House and Senate for consideration.