The Department of Housing and Urban Development is inching closer to making public housing completely smoke-free.

Last year, HUD announced in a white paper its intention to ban properties of having tobacco-based products, saying the dangers of second-hand smoke prompted such action.

HUD Secretary Julián Castro and Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy announced a proposed rule this week to make the nation’s public housing properties completely smoke-free. If approved, that would require 3,100 public housing agencies to ban smoking within 18 months. The agencies would be required to initiate policies that prohibit lit tobacco products in all living units, indoor common areas, administrative offices, and all outdoor areas within 25 feet of housing and administrative office buildings.

“We have a responsibility to protect public housing residents from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, especially the elderly and children who suffer from asthma and other respiratory diseases,” says Castro. “This proposed rule will help improve the health of more than 760,000 children and help public housing agencies save $153 million every year in health care, repairs, and preventable fires.”

HUD is currently seeking public comment on the proposed rule for the next 60 days.