CHEYENNE - A bill to ban smoking statewide in public places, including restaurants and bars, is both timely and controversial, the main sponsor said.

Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, the chief sponsor, said House Bill 141 embodies the basics of the Colorado statewide smoking ban and the Cheyenne citywide smoking ban.

Thus far, 11 states have adopted bans against smoking in indoor public places.

Zwonitzer said another 10 or 15 states are considering statewide bans as part of their legislative agendas this year, which makes it a timely issue.

In Wyoming, three cities have adopted smoking ban ordinances, beginning with Laramie in 2004, followed by Cheyenne and Evanston last year.

Zwonitzer, who has 16 co-sponsors, said he could not get any House members from Natrona County to co-sponsor the bill.

Casper voters rejected a non-smoking ordinance in 2000.

Zwonitzer expects amendment attempts to allow smoking in bars, in private clubs, and to give counties the option of adopting the ban.

A separate bill may be introduced to give the counties the authority to adopt bans countywide.

"Right now they don't have that authority," he said.

As a result, smoking still is allowed in Laramie County outside the Cheyenne city limits, which has caused some conflicts.

At least one Cheyenne club has relocated outside the city limits so it can allow customers to smoke.

"It has been surprising to me who wants to sponsor it. Actually, even two smokers agreed with me and support it as well," Zwonitzer said.

Five or six lobbying groups have signed up to help support the bill, including representatives of the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, individual physicians, economic analysis people from Laramie and a smoke-free coalition.

"I know it's controversial, and I can't say I was chomping at the bit to bring it," Zwonitzer said.

He said a group of constituents in his House district asked him to sponsor the statewide ban.

Opponents will also be lining up.

The Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association has opposed smoking bans wherever they have popped up in Wyoming, said director Lynn Birleffi.

The association members say such a decision is better left to local government, Birleffi added.

Also opposed is the Wyoming State Liquor Association, said director Mike Moser, who pointed out that the three communities that adopted smoking bans represent only 85,000 people.

"The other 425,000 people would be affected by a mandate they basically have no choice over," Moser said. "This should be a municipality-by-municipality discussion rather than a statewide ban."

"I think it's important to remember that Wyomingites believe in personal and business rights, their ability to self determine their future," he added.

Commenting that the market dictates no-smoking areas, Moser added that the majority of restaurants in the state already are smoke-free.

Zwonitzer said he hopes the House Committee on Labor, Health and Social Services will approve the bill for debate on the floor in a couple of weeks when it comes up.

Rep. Jack Landon, R-Sheridan, the chairman of that committee, said that with only two holdover committee members from last session, he cannot predict how the group will vote on the bill.

Personally, Landon said, he feels it is a local issue and the government closest to the people should have that decision.

He also said he has found that in public places such as restaurants, smokers are very considerate of nonsmokers.

In October, 57 percent of people who responded to a Casper Star-Tribune poll favored a statewide smoking ban.

In Rawlins last year, business owners collected 2,000 or more signatures against any type of smoking ban.

When advised Thursday that the Legislature may consider a statewide ban, Debbie Eastland, spokeswoman for the Riflemen Club in Rawlins, said firmly, "We don't want that ban on smoking."

Capital bureau reporter Joan Barron can be reached at (307) 632-1244 or at joan.barron@casperstartribune.net.