I started putting together a draft of this post a week or two ago when it looked like the smoking ban might not make it through the Assembly. Just today comes word that the bill has passed and will go to the governor to become law. The ban will go into place on Dec 1 of this year.

Here’s the older Daily Press arcticle with some background on the ban

There’s a lot of controversy surrounding smoking bans. You have those that oppose the ban on free-market principles, and then you have those that support the bill for the public health benefits. One of the earlier bills that went through earlier last week banned smoking while driving with a child in the car, and another bill would have allowed counties and municipalities to make their own rules, including banning smoking in private residences if they wanted to.

The bill that was passed is a compromise between the Democratic Governor Tim Kaine and Republican Speaker of the House William Howell. The bill bans all smoking from public restaurants and bars, with exceptions for separately ventilated rooms, outdoor patios, and hot dog stands and other mobile vendors.

Republicans tried to insert language that would have prevented the ban from being in effect when minors aren’t allowed at the establishment, or when the facility is being rented for a private function. This would have in effect allowed smoking in bars at late night when most people are partying. It doesn’t look like this provision made it through alive.