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GREENSBORO — When Ed Byers retired to Greensboro from Illinois five months ago, he didn’t think about North Carolina’s smoking laws much.

“I didn’t really realize the impact of living in a state that didn’t have a smoke-free public place law,” Byers told a gathering of lawmakers who represent Guilford County.

As it turns out, encountering second-hand smoke in restaurants was enough to make him one of 100 people who filed into the Melvin Municipal Office

Building on Thursday night for a chance to talk to state legislators.

About 45 of those people spoke as all but two of the 10 lawmakers who represent parts of Guilford County listened to their concerns, which ranged from government funding to changes in state law.

Byers was among no fewer than four speakers who backed House Bill 2, which would ban smoking in all public workplaces, including bars and restaurants.

The measure was given its first hearing in a House health committee Thursday and is widely expected to make it to a vote in the full House this spring.

A similar bill failed last year. Other backers who spoke in favor of the bill included Guilford County health director Merle Green, who said there was science that showed second-hand smoke from cigarettes could cause or exacerbate health problems.

Other speakers asked legislators to support funding for interests ranging from teacher salaries to libraries to programs that help the homeless and victims of domestic violence.

In response, legislators warned that the state faced a massive funding gap in the budget they’re drafting to take effect July 1. Even optimistic estimates say there will most likely be a $2 billion difference between spending demands and the money available from tax dollars to pay for government spending.

“We do have some very bad budget problems,” said Rep. Maggie Jeffus, a Greensboro Democrat and one of the chief budget writers in the House. “Things change day to day.”

Jackie Foster asked for help with a smaller problem.

The community service coordinator for the Guilford County probation office told lawmakers that parking was a problem for state employees who work in downtown Greensboro. While city workers can get a space in the city garage for $25 a month, county workers have to either pay twice the monthly fee or $7 per day.

Often, Foster said during the three minutes she was given to talk, even more expensive garage spaces can be tough to come by.

Her plea sparked several responses from the legislators, including Sen. Katie Dorsett, a Greensboro Democrat, who said she would look into the issue. Rep. Laura Wiley, a High Point Republican, added, “My son works in the courthouse too, so I’m well familiar as well.”

Other speakers asked the Guilford County lawmakers to:

* lHelp raise the limit on the number of gallons that small brewers can sell on their own without going through a beer distributor.

* Change the state’s law on contributory negligence, which makes it hard for accident victims to recoup money if they have an accident.

* Change state law to protect those who practice alternative and integrated medicine from adverse rulings by the North Carolina Medical Board.

Contact Mark Binker at (919) 832-5549 or mark.binker@news-record.com