Advocacy in North Carolina
The American Lung Association works with national, state and local governments to improve public policies that relate to lung health. Please join us in advocating for clean air and healthy lungs. We can't do it without you! As a voter, you have the power to persuade your elected officials to support policies that protect lung health for all Americans. As an e-advocate, you can make your voice heard. Sign up today!
- 2009-2010 General Assembly Session: 2009 Outcomes
There were two significant victories for tobacco control during the 2009 meeting of the state legislature, which ended in August 2009. North Carolina passed a law making all restaurants and bars smoke-free as of Jan. 2, 2010!
You can watch a video of Gov. Purdue signing the legislation and hear about the determination and leadership it took to pass this public health law protecting citizens from the hazards of secondhand smoke. In addition, another law was passed that will ban tobacco products from state prisons.
When the legislature reconvienes on May 12, 2010, we want to see all North Carolina worksites and public places become 100% smoke-free, and we will continue to focus on this in the next session. We will also continue to advocate for legislation that allows local control so communities can pass smokefree ordinances to protect the public from exposure to secondhand smoke.
Although we fought to increase in North Carolina's cigarette excise tax by at least $1.00 per pack, the budget adopted in August 2009 included only a 10 cent increase in the cigarette tax. A $1.00 cigarette tax could have kept 86,600 youth from starting to smoke. The small 10 cent increase is not expected to reduce consumption and consequently offers no health benefit. North Carolina will remain ranked as one of the lowest cigarette tax rate states in the nation at just 45 cents (current national average is $1.31). Knowing the state is expected to face another large deficit we expect a heated debate next year for a significant tax increase.
In the current economic climate, funding for that supports effective (and evidence-based) tobacco use prevention and cessation programs needs to be protected. Due to this year's budget shortfall, the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund and the Tobacco Trust Fund lost $5,000,000 each in transfers to the General Fund to help offset the budget shortfall. We will continue to fight to tobacco prevention and cessation programs and seek new sources of revenue. - Thank you for attending Smoke-Free Air Day 2009!
On March 24, 2009, our Action Alert members and partners joined us for Smoke-Free Air Day at the Legislature. We gathered at the Clarion Capitol Hotel in downtown Raleigh to show support for House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 205. If passed, these bills would make all of North Carolina's workplaces and public places smokefree. Thank you for attending and showing your support for smokefree air in North Carolina! - N.C. Lung Action Network
This statewide volunteer network allows advocates to quickly and easily contact their legislators and other policy makers to advocate for better lung health in North Carolina. Do you want policy makers to hear what you have to say? Join us today! - State of the Air
How clean is the air where you live? Visit our interactive website to find out. - State of Tobacco Control
Learn how your health is impacted by your state's tobacco control laws.
