Carroll’s Bill Protecting Minors from Smoking Passes General Assembly

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Helping protect minors from the harmful effects of smoking, state Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook, passed legislation banning smoking in cars when minors are present.

“While adults are free to smoke or not, they should not knowingly put their children at risk from their second-hand smoke,” said Carroll. “That’s why I want to ban that habit and protect children from smoke while parfents are in cars with their children.”

Carroll’s House Bill 2276 prohibits anyone from smoking in a vehicle, moving or not, while there is a minor under the age of 17 in the vehicle. The legislation passed both chambers with broad bipartisan support earlier this session and is awaiting Governor J.B. Pritzker’s signature. According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, even smoke vehicles with rolled down windows can pose a significant secondhand risk to children and other passengers. Carroll also sponsored supported legislation this session raising the smoking age to 21 in order to protect minors.

“While public information about the dangers has vastly improved public health, there is still more work to do,” said Carroll. “We must continue to protect children from the dangers of second-hand smoke.”

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