A bill to ban most indoor smoking in Virginia, passed by the state Senate earlier this month, did not come up for a vote in a House of Delegates subcommittee, which probably means that the measure will die for this legislative session.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Feb. 9 that the House General Laws subcommittee has defeated a number of proposals to enforce a smoking ban in Virginia; committee members said that they oppose a blanket ban but would consider legislation that requires restaurants that allow smoking to post signs at their doorways.

But public-health groups said the so-called compromise legislation would do nothing to protect restaurant and bar workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke.