Wash. bill would OK sites for cigar, pipe smoking

More than five years after Washington voters banned smoking in most public places, state lawmakers on Thursday took up a bill that would make an exception for a limited number of tobacco retailers.

The Senate Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard public testimony on a measure that would permit up to 100 cigar lounges and 500 retail tobacco shops to apply for state license endorsements to allow cigar and pipe smoking on their premises.

Cigarette smoking still would be banned.

Applicants would have to pay a $15,000 fee to obtain a cigar lounge endorsement and $5,000 to obtain a tobacco store endorsement.