Georgia senators are seeking restrictions on vaping in public spaces.
The state Senate voted 51-3 on Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 47, which would regulate vaping in the same way the state already regulates smoking. The measure will go to the House of Representatives for further debate.
Georgia’s Smoke-Free Air Act of 2005 bans indoor smoking in many public places. However, some locations are excluded, including tobacconists, bars that only accept guests over the age of 18, and privately owned meeting rooms
A person who breaks the law commits a misdemeanor and can be fined from $100 to $500.
The state Ministry of Health supports the measure. In 2019, the department reported that it had identified 42 cases of smoking-related illnesses in Georgia, including six deaths.
Senator Chuck Hufstetler, a Republican from Rome, said he’s trying to keep the change as simple as possible.
“Some people would say that vaping is safer due to the lack of tar, others would say that the ultrafine particles in the aerosol make things worse. “It shouldn’t be argued one way or the other,” said Hufstetler.
