Capitol briefs: Senate panel OKs anti-smoking bills

Publication Date: 2012-02-08

• Author:Times-Dispatch Staff
• Publication:Richmond Times Dispatch

Senate panel OKs anti-smoking bills

Smoking would be prohibited on public school grounds and in government-owned and -leased buildings under two bills approved Tuesday by the Senate Local Government Committee.

Senate Bill 467, sponsored by Sen. Ralph S. Northam, D-Norfolk, would expand the prohibition on smoking in school buildings to include the grounds of the schools and the inside of any public school administration building. It passed the committee — the only committee in the Senate with a majority of Democrats — on a 12-3 vote.

Senate Bill 468, also sponsored by Northam, would prohibit smoking in any building owned or leased by the state and give localities the option of enacting a similar ordinance. It cleared the committee 11-4...