PANEL TWEAKS SMOKING BAN BILL
Realizing they may lack the votes needed to pass a more stringent
statewide smoking ban, Minnesota lawmakers charged with crafting
the bill changed it Thursday to allow for more places people
could smoke.
After Thursday's agreement, the measure explicitly does not ban
smoking outside. That means bars and restaurants could allow
smoking on outdoor patios if permitted by local governments.
The measure, likely to become law, still would ban smoking in
bars, restaurants, private clubs like the American Legion or
Veterans of Foreign Wars, taxis and other public places. Smoking
has been banned in most workplaces for years.
