Opinion ID: 2722123
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Tobacco Retail Outlets

Text: The exemption for tobacco retail outlets was not part of the bill when it was originally introduced. Instead, it was proposed by committee amendment.42 One senator stated the exemption was added because it was “reasonable that a business that deals in nothing but tobacco products be able to allow smoking within their facility”43 and that it made “sense to let people try out the wares in the smoke shop.”44 In addition, the owner of a tobacco shop testified during the committee hearing that ideally, customers would be able to sample his products before purchasing, “like going to the supermarket to sample various foods that [it] offer[s].”45 There was no testimony or discussion about whether such sampling is necessary to the operation of a tobacco retail outlet or why any such sampling had to occur indoors, as opposed to outdoors. We conclude that there is no difference in circumstances between tobacco retail outlets and all other public places and places of employment so as to justify the expediency of diverse legislation and that the exemption in § 71-5730(3) is 42 See Floor Debate, Amend. 276, L.B. 395, 100th Leg., 1st Sess. 20-22 (Mar. 5, 2007). 43 Id. at 20. 44 Id. at 23. 45 Health and Human Services Committee Hearing, L.B. 395, 100th Leg., 1st Sess. 66 (Feb. 1, 2007). Nebraska Advance Sheets 950 288 NEBRASKA REPORTS therefore unconstitutional special legislation. The mere fact that tobacco retail outlets sell only tobacco products does not distinguish them in any substantial way from other public places or places of employment. And allowing patrons of such shops to smoke simply because it is convenient does not comport with the purpose of the Act, which is to protect the public and employees from the dangers of secondhand smoke.