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• Bill banning smoking in public places likely dead for year 

A bill that would ban smoking in restaurants and bars across South Carolina is essentially dead until the state Supreme Court rules on whether cities and towns can impose local bans, legislators said Tuesday.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 13-2 to return the bill to subcommittee, marking the second time this year the bill's been sent back to await a decision.

Rep. Garry Smith, R-Simpsonville, argued the bill should never have been on Tuesday's agenda.

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