The Kentucky Supreme Court has overturned a smoking ban in central Kentucky.
The court ruled Thursday that the Bullitt County Board of Health went too far in passing a smoking ban three year ago. Bullitt Fiscal Court and the county's eight cities sued to stop the countywide ban, and it never went into effect.
Bullitt County Circuit Court found the regulation invalid, but the Court of Appeals reversed the ruling. The case then went to the Supreme Court, which reversed the appellate ruling on Thursday.
The Supreme Court's opinion said health boards are given authority to adopt regulations to protect people's health but that the Bullitt County board exceeded that authority.
The ban would have required bars, restaurants and all places open to the public, including some outdoor areas, to go smoke-free.