Traditional tobacco state Virginia has taken a giant step toward passing a ban on most indoor smoking, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Feb. 13.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Brandon Bell (R-Roanoke County) was approved 21-18 after earlier losing a 20-18 vote. Bell's amendment of the measure to include all restaurants in the state, rather than allowing local governments to decide whether to ban smoking in restaurants, was seen as the key to passage.

The measure now moves to the state House of Delegates for consideration.