New legislation aimed at banning smoking on beaches

Cigarette butts are littering local beaches

Florida lawmakers may let locals vote on public property smoking bans, according to a report in the Palm Beach Post.

Republican State Rep. Bill Hager of Boca Raton is pushing legislation which would allow cities and counties to control whether smoking is allowed on publicly owned property, including beaches. The legislation would also allow local officials to place tougher anti-smoking measures than those in place at the state level.

Florida law currently bans smoking indoors but does not specify whether smoking is prohibited outdoors on state property. If you take a look down South Beach or any other local beaches, cigarette butts are a common sight, and Hager wants to change that.

The new legislation is scheduled to get its first hearing Thursday in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee.