Table 2

Summary of participation and issues discussed, by state (ordered from strongest to weakest legislation)

State
Year initiated
Outside participants
Participant types
Major issues discussed

Utah
1993
65
Local and national advocates, including former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop
Protecting public health; risks of secondhand smoke; economic impact of a new law; state reputation for excessive moralizing
South Dakota
2001
29
Local and national advocates, including lobbyists for Brown & Williamson and RJ Reynolds
Protecting public health; whether legislation was needed or businesses would self-regulate; personal experiences with smoking
Florida
1992
42
Local advocates and some national organizations
Protecting public health; whether legislation was needed or businesses would self-regulate; smoker and nonsmoker rights
Oregon
2001
28
Local advocates and some national organizations
Pre-emption clause (whether the state should prevent localities from passing more-restrictive laws); protecting public health; the views of state residents; potential negative economic impacts of a law
North Dakota
2001
12
Local advocates and constituents
Whether government action was necessary or businesses would self-regulate; personal experiences with smoking; limited discussion about protecting public health
Louisiana
1992
3
Tobacco industry lobbyist and legislative staffers
Importance of accommodating smokers; difficulty of enforcing smoking restrictions

Source: Transcribed testimony given for and against proposed and final legislation, coded by the authors.

Apollonio et al. Health Research Policy and Systems 2007 5:12   doi:10.1186/1478-4505-5-12