New Hampshire - The Indoor Smoking Act

Statewide partial smoking ban: On September 17, 2007, the Indoor Smoking Act went into effect, banning smoking in schools, child daycare facilities, hospitals, grocery stores, elevators and public conveyances (except when rented for private purposes), restaurants, bars, and private clubs when open to the public.

Private clubs and religious and fraternal organizations (including bars and restaurants inside these places), hotel and motel rooms, rented halls and rooms under control of the renter, college dormitory rooms, public housing, nursing homes, areas designated by hospitals, and alcohol/drug rehabilitation facilities are exempt from smoking regulation and can allow smoking indoors freely. All other places must designate smoking and nonsmoking areas and post appropriate signs. Towns only can regulate smoking more strictly with regard to fire safety and sanitation. In 2003, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire ruled that this means state law preempts towns from enacting stricter local smoking bans for health reasons.