MINNEAPOLIS, April 16, 2008—Iowa Governor Chet Culver Tuesday signed into law the Smoke Free Air Act, making Iowa the 28th state to pass some form of ban on indoor smoking.

Peer pressure from neighboring Minnesota and other states may have helped push Iowa to take the plunge. Minnesota, Illinois, and South Dakota have all passed strong laws against secondhand smoke in public places.

The Iowa law will ban smoking in public places, including restaurants, bars and workplaces.

"My goal is to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation, which is why I am proud to sign the Smoke Free Air Act," Governor Culver told a news conference.

"This is a bill which reflects commitment and compromise; passion and practicality. Today, we are locking arms, putting partisan politics aside and joining
together with one common purpose: to build a healthier Iowa."

The bill has some exemptions: gambling areas of casinos, and the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. But taverns and restaurants in casinos are
squarely covered by the ban.

The law goes into effect starts July 1.