A few years ago, anyone would have laughed at a proposal to ban smoking in restaurants in Virginia.

That’s changed rapidly in the past three years.

In a state where the early economy was based on the tobacco crop and the largest cigarette manufacturer in the country is headquartered, more than 10 bills have been introduced in the General Assembly this year that would curb smoking in public places.

Prior to 2005, proposals to curb smoking were much less prohibitive, such as banning smoking in restaurant bathrooms or tightening controls to prevent teen smoking. A 2005 proposal to ban smoking in public indoor areas failed the Senate handedly -  26-14.

Since then, lawmakers have been more brazen in bills aimed at curbing public smoking, and they have in turn enjoyed more success. A similar plan passed the Senate in 2006 but was left in a House of Delegates committee. In 2007, a plan to ban public smoking failed in the House of Delegates, but the chamber passed a bill that would require restaurants allowing smoking to post a “smoking permitted” sign. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine added an amendment to prohibit smoking in all restaurants, which failed in the House of Delegates. Without the amendment, Kaine vetoed the bill.

This year, Kaine has pushed again for a ban on smoking in indoor sections of restaurants. Ralph S. Northam, D-Norfolk, is sponsoring the bill, which would prohibit smoking in any food establishment, including private clubs.

Other bills go further, such as HB 500, which would ban smoking in all public indoor areas. Del. Phillip Hamilton, R-Newport News, has introduced that bill.

Yet others, such as SB 202, would give localities the power to ban smoking.

The business and tobacco lobbies surely won’t let these proposals go by without a fight. They argue that restaurant owners should retain the right to choose whether to allow smoking.

Twenty-eight states have banned smoking in restaurants. The likelihood that Virginia will be the next state to pass it is unlikely, but don’t expect it to go away anytime soon. Each year these proposals are gaining ground.