Quote
"The anti-smoking movement has become more sophisticated in its efforts to enact bans and restrictions on smoking.... They have adopted a 'Pac-man' strategy where they attempt to gobble up one community at a time.... The 'Pac-man' strategy makes sense for the antis because it is easier for a group of extremists to have an impact on the local level than in larger jurisdictions.... The solution to 'Pac-man' is statewide pre-emption."
Tina WallsPhilip Morris
Virginia
On December 1, 2009, a weak law went into effect that restricts smoking in restaurants. The law allows smoking in restaurants in ventilated smoking rooms, and still exempts many other workplaces including all bars. Virginia law still preempts all local ability to address smokefree air issues.
To learn more about the law, visit the Virginia Department of Health.
Virginia law states, "Ordinances adopted after January 1, 1990, shall not contain provisions or standards which exceed those established in this chapter." Read more about current tobacco-related legislation in Virginia.
For more information on smokefree efforts in Virginia, visit Smoke Free Virginia Now.
Current tobacco-related statistics are available from the Centers for Disease Control's Tobacco Control State Highlights, 2007.
Virginia's 2010 Legislative Session: January 13 - March 13 (est.)
Legislative SummariesArchives
- 2/4/2010HB1351—(publicly owned buildings)—A Bill relating to the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act—Session Adjourned
- 1/14/2010HB186—(vehicles with minors)—A Bill relating to smoking in a vehicle in which a child is present—Session Adjourned
Action AlertsArchives
- 8/13/2010Preemption Watch Bill Tracking Summary
- 5/19/2010What's happening in the U.S. Territories and Commonwealths?
News SummariesArchives
- 2/5/2010State Preemption of Local Smoke-Free Laws in Government Work Sites, Private Work Sites, and Restaurants United States, 2005-2009
- 1/31/2010New smoking laws don't have much bite
- 12/1/2009Clean air on the menu
- 3/9/2009Kaine to sign restaurant-bar smoking ban legislation today
- 2/20/2009Restaurant smoking ban goes to the governor
- 2/17/2009Virginia Senate rejects House changes to smoking-ban bill
- 2/10/2009Va. House Approves Ban on Smoking
- 2/6/2009Deal puts smoking ban in restaurants on path to passage
- 2/3/2009Bills to Restrict Smoking Pass Va. Senate
- 1/29/2009Bills banning smoking move forward in Va. Senate
- 1/22/2009Smoking ban has local support
- 1/20/2009Sen. measure allowing local smoking limits stalls
- 1/5/2009Variety of Anti-Smoking Bills Coming from Arlington Delegation
- 12/15/2008Public smoking ban on way?
- 11/17/2008Supervisors voice support for smoking legislation
- 10/28/2008Restaurants wrestle with how to handle smoking inside
- 10/8/2008More show than fix to 10 p.m. smoking ban
- 2/25/2008Opinion: Ban on Public Smoking Rears its Head…Again
- 2/20/2008Ad aims to revive bill on smoking ban
- 2/1/2008Smoking-ban bills pass in committee
- 1/28/2008Smoking ban bill to go before Senate
- 1/25/2008Local option smoking bans
- 1/14/2008Suffolk to vote on smoking ban resolution
- 1/8/2008Kaine to Try Again to Pass Smoking Ban
Press ReleasesArchives
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State Specific Resources
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