Kansas House Bill HB2252

Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/4/25

Caption

Amending the Kansas indoor clear air act to prohibit smoking on the gaming floor of a lottery gaming facility or racetrack gaming facility and amending the definition of smoking to include the use of an electronic cigarette and smoking marijuana.

Summary

HB 2252 amends the Kansas Indoor Clean Air Act to expand the definition of “smoking” and to add a new smoking prohibition on the gaming floor of lottery gaming facilities and racetrack gaming facilities. Under the bill, smoking would include not only traditional tobacco smoking, but also the use of electronic cigarettes and the burning of marijuana. The bill also updates related definitions, including “gaming floor,” to identify the areas of gaming facilities where the new prohibition would apply. The measure revises K.S.A. 21-6109 and 21-6110, which govern where smoking is prohibited in enclosed areas and public places, and it repeals the existing versions of those statutes so the amended provisions would control. The bill preserves most current exemptions, such as tobacco shops, certain private clubs, designated smoking areas in adult care homes and long-term care units, and other limited exceptions, while specifically removing the gaming-floor exemption by making smoking unlawful there. It would take effect upon publication in the statute book.

Impact

The bill would broaden Kansas smoking restrictions by bringing electronic cigarettes and marijuana smoking within the state’s indoor clean air rules and by eliminating the ability to smoke on the gaming floors of lottery and racetrack gaming facilities. It would directly affect casino and racetrack gaming operators, employees, patrons, and enforcement of smoke-free workplace and public-place rules, while leaving most existing statutory exemptions intact. The bill amends and repeals portions of the Kansas statutes governing indoor smoking, changing the legal definition of smoking and the list of exempt locations.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill is generally supportive of smoke-free workplace and public-health protections, especially for gaming-facility employees, as reflected by its request on behalf of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects. The absence of recorded committee debate or votes limits the ability to measure broader legislative sentiment, but the bill’s framing indicates a health-and-worker-safety rationale rather than a punitive one. Overall, the measure appears to be aimed at reducing secondhand smoke exposure and aligning the law with newer nicotine products and marijuana use.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the removal of the gaming-floor smoking exemption, which would affect casino and racetrack gaming businesses that may rely on smoking allowances as part of their operations and customer experience. Another likely issue is the expansion of the definition of smoking to include electronic cigarettes and marijuana, which broadens enforcement and may raise questions about how the law applies to vaping and cannabis use in public indoor spaces. Support appears to come from casino employees and public-health advocates, while opposition would most likely come from gaming operators, smoking-permitted venues, and others concerned about business impacts or enforcement complexity.