We have made great progress in Wisconsin towards smoke-free air, but we still have work to do to create and protect smoke-free environments. Secondhand smoke remains a proven health threat .
Wisconsin's Smoke-Free Air Law
Wisocnsin's smoke-free air law took effect July 5, 2010. The law protects workers and customers from the dangers of secondhand smoke.
- View the smoke-free air law fact sheet
- Visit the wibettersmokefree.com website
- Smoke-Free Air is a Success Factsheet
- Find out more about the law and memoranda
*Please be aware that there may be local smoke-free laws in your area that also apply.
Smoke-Free Air Law Compliance System
The Tobacco Prevention and Control Program administers a public compliance system to report possible smoke-free air law violations. This is an online reporting system that lives on the wibettersmokefree.com website.
- Once a report is submitted and reviewed, the system will send:
-An educational letter addressed to the business
-Letters to local law enforcement
-An e-mail to the MJC coordinator - The full report information is only given to local law enforcement and the MJC coordinator. It contains everything filed, including names, contact information, and comments.
- We do not, as a policy, release personal information about individuals who reported the smoke-free air violation to business owners and/or media.
- Contact Tobacco Prevention and Control Program staff if you have questions related to the compliance system or observe repeat offenders and would like to discuss next steps.
Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing
Clear Gains is Wisconsin's effort to ensure that all apartment residents have healthier, safer places to live. Currently, all multi-residential facilities are required to have indoor common areas smoke-free though the state's Smoke-Free Air Law.
- Visit the Clear Gains website
- Find additional resources in the Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing Toolkit
Smoke-Free Air on College Campuses
Spark is a Wisconsin-wide, state supported program that advocates for and helps college campuses pass 100% comprehensive tobacco-free policies for all campus premises. Visit the Spark website or the Young Adult Toolkit.
E-Cigarettes
E-cigarettes threaten clean indoor air standards and can make enforcement confusing. They produce a secondhand aerosol that can contain nicotine, ultrafine particles, heavy metals, and cancer-causing chemicals. For more on e-cigarettes, visit the E-Cigarette Toolkit.
Casinos/Tribes
Native American Tribes are sovereign nations and Wisconsin's Smoke-Free Air law does not apply. Each tribe is governed by tribal chairpersons, who create tribal laws according to the best interest of their native communities. Wisconsin Native American Tobacco Prevention Network members from the 11 tribes actively address smoke-free air policies in their communities with the assistance of the National Native Network .
Smoke-Free Air in Homes and Vehicles
Private, smoke-free, single-family homes and vehicles are not a current priority in Wisconsin, but the Environmental Protection Agency has some resources. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids also has a factsheet on Secondhand Smoke, Kids, and Cars .