A proposal for a statewide smoking ban, which fizzled in previous Wyoming legislative sessions, is under consideration again.

A state committee was meeting Monday and today to review and consider a measure for a blanket smoking ban for all of Wyoming’s enclosed public places. The Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee is examining requests from the public during its two-day meeting at the Capitol in Cheyenne.

Meanwhile, Teton County health officials are gearing up for a Dec. 16 meeting to determine whether they have the authority to change a food code to prohibit smoking in bars and restaurants. The effort is the most recent attempt for a ban in the Jackson area.

Jackson Town Council members stopped previous attempts at passing a ban by ordinance, maintaining such a law was unnecessary. All bars and restaurants in Jackson Hole, except the Virginian, have voluntarily barred patrons from lighting up.

Teton public health attorney and state Rep. Keith Gingery told the health board at a meeting in October that even if it doesn’t have the authority to establish a smoking ban through the food code, other efforts could prevail.

“We’ll have to see who gets on the Town Council” and if they feel a smoking ban is necessary, he told the board at its Oct. 28 meeting.

Or, perhaps state lawmakers could pass one this session, he said. Gingery was planning on co-sponsoring a bill on the topic, he said.