Assembly Bill 211 proposes to create a new statute that exempts certain tobacco bars from the existing public smoking ban in Wisconsin. Specifically, the bill allows tobacco bars that were established on or after June 4, 2009, to permit smoking of cigars and pipes, provided they do not operate as retail food establishments. This exemption is in addition to the current law, which already allows tobacco bars that existed before June 3, 2009, to permit indoor smoking.

The bill defines a tobacco bar as a tavern that generates at least 15 percent of its annual gross income from the sale of cigars and pipe tobacco on the premises, excluding vending machine sales. By creating this new exemption, the bill aims to support the operation of newer tobacco bars while maintaining restrictions on smoking in other indoor locations.