Smoking bills headed for negotiation

The Senate today is expected to send a House bill on smoking in restaurants and bars to the Education and Health Committee.

That’s the next step in a process that lawmakers expect will strip the bill of pro-smoking amendments and send it to a conference committee where the Senate smoking legislation has already landed.

The House weakened the anti-smoking measure backed by Democratic Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and the GOP leadership by allowing smoking iin establishments where minors are banned, and requiring that smoking and non-smoking areas only be separated by a door.

One compromise being discussed is allowing smoking in patios that serve as restaurant entrances as long as the flaps of any temporary enclosure are raised. It would also extend the effective date of the law to Dec. 1, instead of July 1.