It has been more than one year since we heard about the bill that would make casinos in Atlantic City smoke-free.
New Jersey Senate Bill S1493, which eliminates the state’s smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities, passed out of the state legislature’s Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee back on Jan. 29, 2024.
Two weeks later, Bill S2651, which regulates smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities and is co-sponsored by Sen. John J. Burzichelli and Sen. Michael L. Testa Jr., was introduced in the Senate and referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on Feb. 12, 2024.
So, one bill passes through committee and one bill is introduced and awaiting the next step, but after more than 13 months, it seems the quagmire is getting thicker and deeper with no movement and no effort to move.
‘Senate leadership has turned a blind eye’
Pete Naccarelli is a longtime Atlantic City table games dealer and co-founder of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE).
“For the last year, the New Jersey Senate has been sitting on S1493. It has been passed out of committee and is ready for the full Senate to vote on its passage, but Senate leadership has turned a blind eye,” Naccarelli told Comped. “Once they finally call for a vote in the Senate, if the bill receives at least 21 votes in favor, then it will be passed to the General Assembly, where it will go through the same process of committee consideration followed by a full Assembly vote.
“If both chambers pass the bill, then it will proceed to Governor Phil Murphy, who has said he will sign the bill into law if it reaches his desk. In addition, CEASE and the United Auto Workers (UAW), representing scores of Atlantic City casino workers, filed a lawsuit last year against the State of New Jersey over the exemption in the Smoke-Free Air Act. As of now, the case is with the Appeals Court of New Jersey.”
With the above timeline of things that have to occur, could there conceivably be some kind of movement in either direction over the next three or six months?
“A majority of state Senators have expressed support for smoke-free policies, so we believe that the bill will pass if the full Senate is given a chance,” Naccarelli said. “All that we need is for the NJ Senate President Nicholas Scutari to call for a vote. And the same applies to the Assembly. We hope to make this an issue in the race for governor as well. Several of the candidates are outspoken supporters of our cause.”
Smoke-free casinos may continue to be pushed to back burner
The New Jersey primary elections will take place in less than three months on June 10, with the gubernatorial election scheduled for Nov. 4. The possibility of this carrying over until 2026 is real.
“Bill 2651 is a bill that would continue to allow smoking in Atlantic City casinos and follows exactly the suggestions that the casino industry wants,” Naccarelli said. “The bill would retain the same level of smoking as it does now and will not decrease the amount of secondhand smoke exposure that workers have to endure. This bill only serves to drive attention away from S1493, which can actually make a difference and help casino employees and patrons.
“For more than a year now, New Jersey lawmakers have abandoned their promises to protect their constituents’ health by sitting on bills to close the casino smoking loophole. Casino workers — backed by a majority of state Senators — have been fighting tirelessly for their right to breathe clean air. Each day that goes by without a vote is another day that casino workers have to endure the constant harms of secondhand smoke exposure.
“We’re also keeping a close eye on the elections as well. CEASE is made up of thousands of New Jersey voters. If current legislators won’t fight for this, maybe their opponents in those races will. It’s time for New Jersey legislators to finally protect their citizens by closing the casino smoking loophole. We are going to keep fighting for casino workers’ rights and keep pushing legislators to close the casino smoking loophole.”
