Members of the House Economic Matters Committee have narrowly defeated a bill that would have created an exception to the state's new smoking ban.
The legislation would have allowed smoking in enclosed outdoor structures at bars in Baltimore County.
The bill failed in a 10-8 vote on Thursday.
The bill was sponsored by Delegate Joseph Minnick, who co-owns a tavern in Dundalk. He says his tavern and others have lost business since the statewide smoking ban began Feb. 1.
The bill was approved earlier this week by a Senate committee, but Sen. Norman Stone says he expects it will now be shelved.
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Information from: The (Baltimore) Sun
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