Every year thousands of people die from the effects of secondhand smoke. Led by the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, and Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Smoke-Free Arizona prohibits smoking in enclosed public places and places of employment.

On Tuesday, November 7th, 2006 voters overwhelming approved the passage of the Smoke-Free Arizona Act. Provisions of the Smoke-Free Arizona act include:

• Prohibits smoking in enclosed public places and places of employment including offices, healthcare facilities, retail stores, nursing homes, licensed childcare facilities, sports arenas, hotels and motels, restaurants, bars and bowling alleys.
• Does not prohibit smoking in retail tobacco stores, patios outside businesses, private veteran and fraternal clubs, Native American religious ceremonies, and one-half of hotel and motel rooms.
• Allows local jurisdictions to enact stronger tobacco control policies.
• Restricts smoking within a reasonable distance outside an enclosed area where smoking is prohibited.
• Pays for itself with a 2 cent per pack tobacco tax that will pay for the enforcement and public education of the new statewide smoking law.
• Requires the posting of no smoking signs in all places where smoking is prohibited.

The smoke-free portion of the act goes into effect on May 1, 2007. The two-cent per pack cigarette tax to pay for enforcement and education will go into effect when the election is officially certified approximately 30 days from the Election.