Va. Senate backs compromise smoking ban

A ban on smoking in most restaurants in Virginia is one step away from going to the governor’s desk and becoming law.

By a vote of 27-13, the state Senate today approved a compromise version of Senate Bill 1105, sponsored by Sen. Ralph S. Northam, D-Norfolk.

The measure, forged in a bipartisan conference committee over the last two days, now heads to the House of Delegates.

Earlier this morning, Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine. who supports the ban, met with the House Republican caucus to advocate for the bill, which could come up for a vote later today or tomorrow.

The bill would prohibit smoking in all public restaurants that do not have a separately ventilated room for those who wish to light up.

Private clubs would be excluded from the ban, and smoking would be permitted on patios, so long as the retractable flaps of any patio enclosure are lifted. Workers at restaurants with smoking areas could not be compelled to work in the smoking areas.

The agreement eliminates from the bill a House amendment to allow smoking in establishments that don’t permit minors. The changes would take effect Dec. 1.

The legislation had the approval of a bipartisan conference committee of Senate and House of Delegates lawmakers.

The committee included three senators: Northam, Mamie E. Locke, D-Hampton and Frederick M. Quayle, R-Chesapeake. It also included three delegates: Chris Jones, R-Suffolk; Albert C. Eisenberg, D-Arlington; and John A. Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake. Cosgrove sponsored similar legislation in House Bill 1703, which cleared the Senate Education and Health Committee earlier today.