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H.R.4131 / 111th Congress

Smoke-Free Federal Workplace Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Nov 19, 2009

Smoke-Free Federal Workplace Act - Prohibits smoking in federal buildings.

Defines "federal building" to: (1) include any building, any area within 25 feet of such building, any courtyard, any areas used for children's playgrounds, or any structure owned, leased, or leased for use by a federal agency; and (2) exclude any building or other structure on a military installation, any health care facility under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), or any area of a building that is used primarily as living quarters.

Requires the head of each executive agency, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the House Office Building Commission and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and the Architect of the Capitol to: (1) take such actions as necessary to institute and enforce the prohibition as it applies to all federal buildings; and (2) implement an enforcement process to impose a fine on an individual who fails to comply with the prohibition ($250 fine for a first offense, $500 for a second offense, and $1,000 for any subsequent offense).

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Permits a state or local government or a federal agency, including a military installation or VA facility, to implement more protective smoke-free or tobacco-free laws.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Rep. Adler, John H. [D-NJ-3] · D–NJ

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
  • Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  • Committee on House Administration
13 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy.

  2. Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.

  3. Referred to House Judiciary

  4. Referred to House Administration

  5. Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  6. Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure

  7. Introduced in House

  8. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.4131 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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