Illinois is one step closer to becoming a smoke-free state.

The Smoke Free Illinois Act (SB500) was recently passed in the Illinois Senate and is currently on the docket to be read in the House.

The bill has generated conflicting opinions from within the same party.

“I voted against it,” said State Sen. Brad Burzynski. “Basically, I think local control is better than state control.”

Burzynski said the state may be overstepping its boundaries by imposing a statewide ban.

“I think the state forgets that we can’t tell a private business what they can and can’t do,” Burzynski said.

State Rep. Bob Pritchard (R-70th district) said the bill embodies the feelings of many Illinoisans.

“This seems to be the mood of the state,” Pritchard said. “I will be supporting it, and I expect it to pass in the House just as it passed in the Senate.”

The bill, though health-driven, may infringe upon smokers’ rights.

“I do have some concerns, like those that want to smoke won’t have a place to,” Pritchard said. “Basically, how do we allow those who want to smoke to be able to, without infringing on others?”

One DeKalb business owner was concerned with how the local smoking ban will change the area just outside his doors.

“As long as the city understands that there are going to be a lot more cigarette butts on the ground,” said Otto’s owner Stan Doty about the ban coming to DeKalb bars Sept. 1. “They need to confront the issue with making it smoker-friendly.”

DeKalb adopted a smoking ban one year ago, while neighboring Sycamore still allows smoking in public places.

Burzynski doesn’t feel this problem warrants a statewide ban.

“Everybody is looking for an out,” Burzynski said. “One size doesn’t fit all. No one mandated that DeKalb adopt a smoking ban.”