On June 1, 2022, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee officially signed SB2219, a bill that restored the local option to make bars and music venues smokefree.
The law took effect on July 1, 2022.
During the campaign musician Jamie Kent, the ANR Foundation’s Artist in Residence, wrote:
“With this passage, both the state Senate and House have agreed that cities across the state should finally have the ability to regulate smoking inside music venues and bars; a first and crucial step that empowers Tennesseans to advocate within their own communities for smokefree workplaces for musicians and hospitality workers! Thank you to each and every one of you that called and emailed legislators, shared messages of support on social media, and stood in solidarity with us. It was a tight vote and it wouldn’t have happened without you and your support!”
Now that preemption has been repealed in Tennessee, we are excited to support local smokefree campaigns and we continue to need your support!