New Florida Bill Could Ban Smoking at Public Beaches

State Senator Joe Gruters, representative of Sarasota County, recently filed Senate Bill 670 that could make a lot of smokers unhappy.

The new bill proposal would mean local Florida county governments could decide if they want to ban smoking at public parks and beaches.

According to WPTV, one of the main factors contributing to this bill involves the fact that cigarette butts make up a large percentage of the trash found on beaches.

Senate Bill 670 could ban smoking at public beaches and state parks.

House Bill 457 and Senate Bill 630, were some of the previously filed bills that restricted smoking in parks and beaches but they failed to make it out of the committee.

What differentiates Senate Bill 670 from the others is that it allows counties to hold the power and make their decision on whether or not they choose to implement it.

The next legislative session will take place in January and if the bill passes, it would be put into effect in July of 2020.

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