A new bill could make smoking in cars with kids under 12 illegal in South Carolina, with drivers facing fines as lawmakers debate how far the ban should go.

Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, and even short periods of exposure can be harmful to people’s health.

The South Carolina State senator said that the bill is a common-sense measure to protect children in the car, just like car seat and seatbelt laws.

The measure, by Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, passed the Senate Public Safety Committee by a vote of 5-3 and heads to the Senate floor.

A proposed bill in South Carolina would make it illegal to smoke in a vehicle with children under the age of 12 present.