N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue signed House Bill 2, which prohibits smoking in public bars and restaurants. Rep. Hugh Holliman and Sen. Bill Purcell led the efforts to pass this landmark legislation. The smoking ban will go into effect on Jan. 2, 2010, and will be enforced by local health directors. A study by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina found that exposure to secondhand smoke costs North Carolinians $289 million annually. &uot;This new law is a significant step for public health in North Carolina.&bsp; Restaurant and bar patrons and employees will no longer be exposed to the dangers of secondhand smoke,&uot; said Purcell.