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House, Senate
reach deal on
smoking ban
By Holly Hobbs Rappahannock News Staff Writer
A partial ban on smoking in Virginia restaurants and bars is waiting only for Gov. Tim Kaine's signature after members of the state's House of Delegates and Senate reached an agreement Feb. 19.
Kaine is expected to sign off on the smoking ban legislation some time this week.
The ban would go into effect Dec. 1 and would prohibit smoking in all public restaurants and bars that do not have separately ventilated smoking rooms. Exempt from the ban are private clubs and outdoor patios that have retractable awnings.
Earlier this month, Kaine announced that he and House leadership had reached an agreement on the smoking ban legislation. The agreement was jeopardized when amendments to the bill - such as only banning smoking in restaurants that served underage patrons - were proposed.
“The dangers of secondhand smoke are undeniable” Kaine said in a statement released earlier this month. “This legislation will make Virginia’s restaurants safer for both patrons and employees.”
Virginia is home to some of the nation's biggest tobacco companies. Philip Morris USA has headquarters in Richmond, a few miles down the street from the state Capitol.
Contact the reporter at h hobhs@timespapers. com
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