Bill would allow local smoking regulations in parks

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Senate Republican wants to allow cities and counties to be able to regulate smoking in public parks.

State law currently gives authority to the state to regulate smoking -- a concept known as preemption of local authority.

But the bill (SB 562), filed Thursday by Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, would allow cities and counties to “further restrict smoking within the boundaries of any public parks they own.”

The proposal is filed for the 2018 legislative session, which starts in January.