Objective: To describe the nature, extent, and public health significance of state legislation that preempts the local regulation of tobacco.
Data Sources: A computerized database of local tobacco control ordinances, state tobacco control laws, preemption bills introduced during the 1996 state legislative session, articles obtained through a MEDLINE search (1984-1996) using the key word "preemption" or identified from bibliographies of these articles, public opinion surveys, and newspaper articles.
Study Selection: All identified data sources were used.