Rep. Hugh Holliman has received an award from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network for his work in helping to pass a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants.

The law followed years of unsuccessful attempts at a smoking ban for Holliman, a Lexington Democrat and lung cancer survivor. 

The annual award is given to lawmakers who demonstrate solid, consistent leadership in the area of cancer-related public policy advocacy. The network is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization that encourages government officials and candidates to support laws and policies that would make cancer a top national priority. 

"Rep. Holliman’s leadership was the key factor in securing a smoke-free law for North Carolina," said Ashley G. Bell, North Carolina Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society. "He made this lifesaving legislation a personal priority and ensured its passage and ultimate signing by the governor."

The law, which requires all restaurants and bars to be smoke-free, goes into effect on January 2, 2010. With this measure, North Carolina is the first major tobacco growing state to have a 100 percent statewide smoke-free restaurant and bar law.

The proposed rules for implementing the state's historic ban on smoking in restaurants and bars are pretty simple, and there are only two.

Staffers for the N.C. Commission for Public Health, which must ultimately approve the rules, held a hearing Thursday for public comments and questions on the rules. Only a couple procedural questions arose among the small crowd.

The first proposed rule is that cigar bars, which are exempt, must file an affadavit every quarter verifying that they meet the requirements for operating as a cigar bar. (The requirements in the law include: 60 percent of gross revenue comes from alcohol, 25 percent from cigar sales and a humidor is on the premises.)

The second proposed rule says restaurants and bars must post no smoking signs at each entrance, at a height and location easily seen. The signs (proposed template above) must be at least 24 square inches, such as a 4-inch by 6-inch sign, be legible and include three pieces of information: the Division of Public Health's toll-free complaint line, the statute number for the law and the Web site www.smokefree.nc.gov.

The law takes effect Jan. 2.

It's looking an awful lot like Gov. Beverly Perdue won't be having a ceremonial bill signing for the state budget.

Perdue has had ceremonies for a handful of bills this session, notably the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. While no announcement has been made yet, there are an awful lot of reasons why she won't be hauling reporters and VIPs in to sign the bill into law.

The story line coming from House and Senate Democrats is that no one is happy about the budget, which spends $19 billion and raise $990 million in new taxes. Perdue has said she would sign the budget into law with reservations. She called for even more tax revenue to protect education from cuts.

So far, Perdue's office has announced a couple of unrelated events for Friday. Republicans were probably disappointed to see they wouldn't be able to get footage of Perdue signing a tax increase.

Republican Party chairman Tom Fetzer had planned to blast Democrats after the bill signing. He gave up Thursday.

"I don’t think you’ll see anyone clamoring for the pen that was used to sign this year’s budget. No one associated with the passage of this budget should be proud," Fetzer said in a statement.

Hookah bar owners are worried their businesses could go up in smoke.

In the coming weeks, owners hope to persuade state lawmakers to make exemptions for them similar to those granted to cigar bars and country clubs that will allow smoking after a ban takes effect Jan. 1.

The disparity between cigar and hookah bars "just boggles the mind" said owner Adam Bliss.

"Look at who goes to those places -- generally older, affluent white males," he said. "Besides the fact that this law is creating an elitist association between who can smoke and who can't, they're allowing government to put me out of business, and this is supposed to be a free market economy here," he said.

Unlike bars and restaurants, which still attract customers for drinks and food, hookah bars could lose the reason for their existence. (N&O)

House Majority Leader Rep. Hugh Holliman is recovering from surgery to remove a portion of one of his lungs.

Holliman, a Lexington Democrat, is a two-time lung cancer survivor and primary sponsor of a new law that will ban smoking in bars and restaurants. The surgery was conducted as a precautionary measure, according to a news release from the House Speaker's office.

A lower lobe of his right lung was removed as a precautionary measure. The portion was not believed to be cancerous.

Holliman is recovering at Forsyth Memorial Hospital in Winston-Salem. He is expected to return to the legislature next week.  

Gov. Beverly Perdue signed into law a sweeping ban on smoking in most bars and restaurants across the state.

Perdue signed the bill in the old House chamber in the state Capitol as more than 125 lawmakers, advocates and guests looked on and cheered.

"This is really in no exaggeration of the word an absolutely historic day for this great state that was built initially on the backbone of tobacco," Perdue said.

The smoking ban takes effect in January and applies to the inside portions of nearly all bars and restaurants. There are narrow exceptions for cigar bars, and private clubs such as country clubs and VFW halls.

Rep. Hugh Holliman, a Lexington Democrat, who has been pushing for a smoking ban for five years, began with a bill that would ban smoking in all indoor public places. He said he was proud of the new law.

"I think this bill is a huge step forward for public health," Holliman said.

Gov. Beverly Perdue will sign the smoking ban Tuesday morning.

The governor will be joined by secretary of Health and Human Services Lanier Cansler, House Democratic Leader Hugh Holliman, Sen. Bill Purcell and other state legislators and officials for the signing.

The 11:30 a.m. ceremony will take place at the Old House Chamber in the state capitol. 

The House narrowly agreed to the Senate version of a smoking ban, sending to the governor a bill that would ban smoking in bars and restaurants.

"This bill has come a long way," said Rep. Hugh Holliman, the House Democratic leader and champion of the bill. "It's had a much debate as any bill has ever had in this state."

Gov. Beverly Pedue is expected to sign the bill into law. It's a law that might have been unthinkable just a few years ago in a state built on the tobacco industry.

The bill was approved 62 to 56. The original House version allowed smoking only in businesses that prohibited anyone under 18 from entering the premises. That exception generally excluded all bars from the ban. Restaurants complained that the exception would give bars a competitive advantage.

But the version adopted by the Senate removed the section of the bill that applied the ban to all workplaces.

Holliman said the compromise was "probably as good as you're going to do on a bill that's as far reaching as this." He held open the possibility that he would take another run at all workplaces later.

Opponents said the bill was an infringement on personal rights.

"This is about the freedom and rights to do on your property what you see fit," said Rep. David Lewis, a Dunn Republican.

Update: In a statement, Gov. Beverly Perdue called it "an important and historic day for North Carolina."

"I have vigorously supported efforts to reduce and eliminate smoking and this bill will help more North Carolina citizens avoid the dangers of secondhand smoke," she said.

The state Senate voted today to ban smoking in North Carolina bars and restaurants.

But the bill did not include a ban on workplaces, which was an essential part of the bill that originated in the House, reports Mark Johnson.

And no one seemed happy with the way it turned out. The vote was 26-19.

Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to amend the bill to allow restaurant or bar owners to opt out, and allow smoking if they didn't employ anyone under 18. They would have to display signs saying smoking was permitted.

Senators in both parties criticized the bill for banning cigarettes in bars but allowing them in private country clubs.

The bill, asssuming it passes a final Senate vote next week, will go to conference to work out differences with the tougher House version.

The N.C. Senate was going to consider the smoking ban today.

Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand began debating a motion to suspend the rules to vote on a House bill that would ban smoking in restaurants and bars.

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger spoke against the move.

"We're not going anywhere. We're going to be here next week," Berger said. "It is something that would just support the perception that we are a deliberative body for us to take our time."

After Berger spoke, Rand withdrew the motion.

Since arriving at the Senate, the smoking bill has been in a bit of limbo, with Senate Democrats arguing over whether to try to amend it to limit the ban or wait and see if they can gather more votes.